flPyCfcg'SI 

" 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT  OF 

Lewis  F.   Lang f eld 


THE 


OF 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR; 

ALSO    OF 

EXPEDITIONS 

AGAINST  THE  FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  IN  TITIf  EASTERN 

PARTS  OF  NEW-ENGLAND,  IN  THE  YEARS  irtSO,  Ib9<V 

1692,   i696  AND  1704.     WITH  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF 

THE  DIVINE  PROVIDENCE  TOWARDS 

COL.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 

BY  HIS  SON,  THOMAS  CHURCH,  ESQ. 

TO  WHICH  IS  NOW  ADDED, 

AN  INDEX,  COPIOUS  NOTES  AND 
CORRECTIONS. 

ALSO, 

AN  APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING  A  SKETCH  OF  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA,  LAND 

ING  OF  THE  PILGRIMS  AT  PLYMOUTH,  TOGETHER  WITH 

THE  MOST  IMPORTANT  INDIAN  WARS  TO  THE 

TIME  OF  THE  CREEK  WAR. 

BY  SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE. 


Hi&ton : 

HOWE  &  NORTON,  PRINTERS,  14,  STATE-STREET.' 

1825. 


District  of  JHasfitocftttBctt*-- to  wit : 

DISTRICT  CLERK'S  OFFICE. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  eighth  day  of  August,  A.  D. 
1825,  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  Amerl 
im,  Samuel  G.  Drake,  of  the  said  District,  has  deposited  in  this  Office  the 
Title  of  a  Book  the  Right  whereof  he  claim  as  Proprietor,  in  the  Word: 
following,  to  wit: 

"  The  History  of  King  Philip's  War;  also  of  Expeditions  against  the 
French  and  Indians  in  the  Eastern  parts  of  New-England,  in  the  years  1689, 
1690,  1692,  1696,  and  1704;  with  some  account  of  the  divine  providence 
towards  Col.  Benjamin  Church.  By  his  son,  Thomas  Church,  Esq.  To 
which  is  now  added,  an  Index,  copious  Noies  and  Correction?,  Also  an 
Appendix,  containing  a  sketch  of  the  Discovery  of  America;  Landing  of 
the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth,  together  with  the  most  important  Indian  Wars  to 
the  time  of  the  Creek  War.  By  SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE/' 

In  Conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled 
•c  An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  secuiing  the  Copies  of 
Maps,  Charts  and  Books,  to  the  Auihors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies, 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned;"  and  also  to  an  Act  entitled  "  An  Act 
•supplementary  loan  Act,  entitled,  An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learn 
ing,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books  to  the  Authors  and 
Proprietors  of  such  Copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned;  and  extern1 
.•!£  the  Benefits  thereof  to  the  Arts  of  Designing,  Engraving  and  Etchb 
Imiorical  and  other  Prints." 

JNO.  W.  DAVIS,  Clerk  of  the  District  of  MazsacJ, useits. 


' 


KOTO  PHIL-IP. 


.67 

''. 


INDEX. 

Addington,  Isaac,  Biography  of,  Note,  175. 

Agawom,  situation  of,  95,  116,  275. 

Akkompoin,  Philip's  Uncle,  killed,  87. 

Alden,  William,  Mr.  procures  Pilot,  191. 

Alden,  John,  Capt.  193,  199,  202. 

Alderman,  deserts  Weetamore,  35.     Kills  Philip,  101. 

America,  Discovery  of,  265  to  268. 

Amrascoggin,  Fort,  153.     Taken,  154. 

Andros,  Capt.  161,  168. 

Andros,  Edmund,  Sir,  Biography  of,  Note,  121.  Sent  out 
of  the  country,  140. 

ANNAWON,  Mr.  B.  Rodman's  opinion  of  writing  the  word, 
Note,  99,  255.  Is  pursued  by  Capt.  Church,  102.  His 
camp  described,  Note.,  110.  Is  taken,  111.  Makes  a 
speech  to  Capt.  Church,  1 14.  Presents  him  with  Philip's 
royal  robe,  115.  Is  sent  to  Plymouth,  ib.  Put  to 
death,  117. 

Awashonks,  entertains  Philip's  men,  16.  Makes  war  dance 
and  invites  Mr.  Church,  ib.  Mr.  Church's  advice  to  her, 
19.  Wishes  to  join  the  English,  ib.  Is  visited  again  by 
Mr.  Church,  58.  Agrees  on  terms  of  peace,  61.  Makes 
a  great  dance  and  entertain's  Mr.  Church,  71.  Her 
men's  manner  of  becoming  soldiers,  ib.  Volunteer  to 
fight  Philip,  72. 

Ashumequin,  Philip's  father,  115. 

Autose  Towns,  destroyed,  301. 

B. 

Baker,  an  English  captive,  escapes,  157. 

Barker,  Lt.  pursues  the  enemy  at  Menis,  239.    Killed,  240. 

Barrow,  Sam,  executed,  95. 

Beasely  Major,  killed  in  the  massacre  at  Fort  Mims,  300. 

Belcher,«Andrew,  Capt.  relieves  the  army  after  the  great 
Swamp  Fight,  46. 

Belcher,  Mr.  wounded,  24. 

Boon,  Capt.  his  adventures,  294,  295. 

Bracket,  Anthony,  159,  190,  200,  201. 

Braddock,  General,  his  defeat,  292,  293. 

Brodford,  Major,  22,  64,  75. 


M890799 


srv  INDEX. 

Rradstreet,  Gov.  Biography  of,  Note,  122. 

Braton,  Stephen,  assists  Mr.  Church,  164. 

*Hdgway,  Jarman,  193,  194,  195. 

.Brown,  Capt.  216,  245. 

.Brown,  James,  Rev.  sent  to  treat  with  Philip,  21. 

Brunswick  burned,  288. 

Butler,  Gen.  killed,  297, 

C. 

("Jabots,  John.  Sebastian,  discoveries  of,  268. 

Canso,  destroyed,  289. 

Canton,  Corporal,  wounded  and  taken,  198. 

•rape  Sable,  196. 

( \  rver,  John,  first  Gov.  of  New  England,  272. 

t'tisco,  distresses  of,  139  to  140.     Destroyed,  143,  255. 

f'astine,  Baron,  132,  143,  190,  192,  225. 

Cawiey,  Robert,  Pilot,  191,  193. 

Chatahouchie,  battle  of,  302. 

Chubb,  Capt.  surrenders  Pemaquid  Fort,  255  to  257. 

Church,  Benjamin,  Mr.  attends  Awashonks'  war  dance,  16. 
Hears  of  Philip's  war  dance,  20.  Visits  Awashonks,  21. 
Joins  Maj.  Bradford's  army,  22.  Goes  with  Capt.  Fuk 
kr  into  Pocasset  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  27.  His  ex 
traordinary  escape  from  the  battle  of  the  Peasfield,  28 
to  34.  Visits,  Weetamore's  camp,  37.  Accompanies 
Gov.  Winslow,  39.  An  exploit,  40.  Wounded  in  the 
battle  of  the  great  Swamp,  44.  Goes  into  the  Nipmuck 
country,  47.  His  encounter  with  a  Mohegan  Indian,  48. 
Kemoves  to  Rhode  Island,  52.  Meets  some  Indians  at 
SogkonatG  point,  54,  55,  56.  Meets  Awashonks,  57. 
Her  men  join  the  English,  62.  Meets  Awashonks  again, 
70.  Is  commissioned  Captain,  72.  Surprises  the  enemy 
at  Middleboro',  73  Takes  the  Mumponsets,  74.  At 
tacks  the  enemy  in  a  Swamp,  76.  Ambushed  by  Philip, 
84.  Takes  Philip's  wife  and  son,  87.  Philip  escapes 
him,  90.  Fights  him  in  a  Swamp,  92.  Escapes  Totoson 
93.  Takes  173  prisoners,  ib.  Surprises  Phiiip,  99. 
Goes  in  pursuit  of  Annawon,  102.  Takes  him,  111. 
Entraps  Tispaquin,  117.  Is  commissioned  Major,  123. 
His  first  eastern  expedition,  131.  Drives  ofi'the  Indians 
from  Casco,  134.  Returns  home,  139.  Is  treated  ill, 
143.  Goes  on  a  second  expedition  east,  144.  Takes 
Amrascoggin  Fort,  154.  Engages  the  enemy  at  Winter 
Harbour,  157.  Attacked  at  Perpodack,  160.  Returns 
to  Boston,  163.  Is  ill  treated  by  the  Government,  ib. 


INDEX.  V 

H"is  sacrifices,  164.  Goes  on  his  third  expedition,  173. 
His  fourth  eastern  expedition,  182.  A  skirmish  at  St. 
John's  River,  198.  Takes  St.  John's  "Fort,  ib.  Is  su- 
perceded,  202.  His  last  eastern  expedition,  207.  Re 
quests  the  Governor  to  be  sent  against  Port  Royal,  217. 
Takes  Penobscot,  225.  Takes  the  town  of  Menis,  238. 
Threatens  Port  Royal,  241.  Returns  home,  250.  Sketch 
of  his  life,  259.  His  death,  262. 

Church,  Caleb,  164,259. 

Church,  Edward,  Captain,  216,  245,  239. 

Church,  Constant,  Capt.  216,  222,  239,  245. 

Clark's  garrison  destroyed,  53,  253. 

Coffee,  General,  defeats  the  Indians,  300. 

Cole,  James,  Capt.  216,  228,  245. 

Columbus,  life  of,  -Vote,  265  to  267. 

Converse,  Capt.  159. 

Cook,  John,  Capt.  216,  222,  245. 

Creek  War,  300  to  302. 

Cut  worth,  Major,  22. 

D. 

Davenport,  Capt.  killed,  JVote,  41. 
Davis,  Sylvanus,  Capt.  JVote,  130. 
Deerfield,  destroyed,  207,  287,  288. 
Dillano,  Mr.  80  to  83. 
Doney,  Old,  154,  157. 
Dover,  situation  of,  JVbte,  155. 
Drake,  Col.  wounded,  297. 
Dudley,  Joseph,  Gov.  214,221,250, 
Dyer,  John,  Capt.  216,  245. 

E. 

Earl,  Ralph,  Capt.  remonstrates  against  selling  Indians  as 

slaves  out  of  the  Colony,  38. 
Edee,  Sergeant,  233. 
Edmunds,  Capt.  meets  Philip,  39. 
Eels,  Capt,  remonstrates  against  selling  Indians  as  slaves 

out  of  the  Colony,  38. 
Eldriges,  their  exploits,  40. 
Eliot,  Capt.  his  exploit,  289: 
Enotachopco,  battle  of,  301. 

F. 

Fellows,  Mr.  Pilot,  221,235. 
Floyd,  Gen.  defeats  the  Indians,  302, 
Fobes,  William,  79,  176,  181,  182. 
1* 


VI  INDEX. 

Francis,  Prophet,  301. 

Frenchtown,  Massacre  at,  209. 

Fuller,  Capt.  26.-.    His  escape  from  Pocasset,  27,  253. 

G. 

Gallop,  Captain,  219. 

Gardner,  Capt.  killed,  41. 

George,   sent  by  Awashonks  to  invite  Mr.   Church  to  her 

Avar  dance,  16.     His  conference  with  Mr.  Church  on  Sog- 

koiifite  point,  55. 
Gidney,  Col.  187. 

Giles,  Lieut,  sent  to   demand  the  surrender  of  Menis,  236. 
(•rill,  Quartermaster,  wounded,  24. 
Gokling,  Capt.   relieves  Mr.  Church  from  the  battle  of  the 

Peasfield,  34.     At,  the  taking  of  Philip,  97. 
Gorham,  Col.  219,  227,  235,  237,  245. 
Gorton,  Samuel,  Mr.  Biography  of,  JVote,  20.     Sent  to  treat 

with  Philip,  21. 

Gosnold,  Bartholomew,  discovers  New-England,  268. 
Gourdan,  Monsieur,  223,  228,  229,  231,  235. 

H. 

Ilakins,  Capt.  155,  157,  161. 

Hall,  Capt.  137. 

Harmer,  Gen.  his  expedition  and  defeat,  296. 

Fiarmlon,  Capt.  221,  245. 

Harrison,  Gov.  and  Gen.  defeats  Indians  at  Tippecanoe,297. 
Defeats  Proctor  and  Tecumseh  at  Moravian  Town,  299. 

Hathorne,  Col.  202  to  206. 

Havens,  Jack,  66,  70. 

Hazelton,  Charles,  Interpreter,  16. 

Hilton,  Major,  221,  227,  235,  237,  238,  239,  244,  245. 

Hinkley,  Gov.  146. 

Horse-Shoe-Bend,  battle  of,  302. 

Howlandj  Isaac,  91. 

Rowland,  Jabez,  66,70. 

Hubbard,  Mr.  his  defence  of  the  government,  Ao/e,  118. 
Takes  notice  of  Mr.  Church's  exploit,  ./Vote,  35.  Errone 
ous,  ./Vote,  118.  Biography  of,  Note,  261. 

Huckings,  Capt.  his  wife,  155,   156. 

Hunter,  Capt.  his  expedition  and  exploit,  37. 

Hutchinson's  observations  on.  the  superceding  of  Col 
Church,  Abfo,  202. 


INDEX.  VII 

I. 

Ibberville  takes  Pemaquid  Fort,  255  to  257. 

Indians,  mortality  among,  281.     Threaten  the  destruction 

of  Boston,  254. 
Ipswich,  called  Agawom,  95. 

J. 

Jackson,  Gen.  defeats  the  Indians,  301. 

Jacobs,  Lieut,  falls  upon  the  Indians  at  Sudbury,  257. 

Jarvis,  Capt.  235. 

Johnson,  Capt.  killed,  JVbfe,  44. 

Johnson,  Col.  kills  Tecumseh,  299. 

John's  River,  St.  192,  196,  197,  198,  202,  204,  205. 

Jones,  Capt.  brings  the  Pilgrims  to  Plymouth,  269. 

K. 

Keekamuit,  situation  of,  25. 

Kennebeck,  138.     Battle  at  the  river  of,  181. 

Kittery,  situation  of,  JYbte,  209. 

L. 

Lafaure,  taken,  222. 

Lahane,  193,  197. 

Lake,  in  command,  at  battle  of  the  Peasfield,  2$. 

Lamb,  Capt.  216,  245. 

Lateril,  Mr.  200. 

Lee,  Mrs.  132.     Gives  information  of  the  enemy,  ib. 

Le  Faver,  228. 

Leveret,  Gov.  Biography  of,  JVbfe,  117. 

Lightfoot,  78,  83,  103,  105,  134. 

Little-Eyes,  his  ill  intentions,  18.     Taken,  77. 

Losing-Fort,  35. 

Lovewell's  Fight,  290,  291. 

Low,  Anthony,  takes  Mr.  Church  to  N.  Port,  63, 

Lucus,  killed  at  Swamp  Fight,  92. 

M. 

Machias,  200,  220,  226. 

Mason,  Capt.  defeats  Pequots,  285. 

Massasoit,  visits  the  Pilgrims,  282. 

Matapoiset,  men  killed,  23.     Situation  of,  Note,  105 

Maxfield,  Mr.  144. 

Mayr-Point,  158. 

Menis,  taking  of,  236  to  239. 

Merrymeeting-Bay,  destroyed,  288. 

Mile's  Garrison,  23. 

Mirns;  Fort,  Massacre  at;  300. 


Vlll  INDEX. 

Mohawks,  JVbfc,  50. 

Mohegan,  a  story  of,  47  to  50. 

Montinicus,  219. 

Montreal,  destruction  of,  286. 

Moravian  Town,  battle  of,  299. 

Morse,  Dr.  erroneous,  Note  v.  254. 

Morton,  supplied  Indians  with  arms,  Sec.  JVofe,  18. 

Moulton,  Capt.  expedition,  289.  Takes  Norridgewook,  290, 

Mount  Desart,  186,  220,  225,  246. 

Mount  Hope,  situation  of,  JVofc,  17. 

Myrick,  Capt.  216,  228,  245. 

N. 

Narragansets,  suspected,  39.   Join  Philip,  50. 
Naskeag,  200. 

Mathaniel,  his  expedition  with  Light  Foot,  100. 
Nipmucks,  join  Philip,  50. 

Norridgewock,  201.     Visited,  288.     Taken,  289. 
Numposh,  Capt.  of  Seconet  Indians,  138. 

0. 

Oldham,  Mr.  murdered  by  Pequots,  285. 
Oyster  river,  situation  of,  155. 

P. 

Page,  Col.  121. 

Paine,  John,  Lieut.  193. 

Passernaquaddy,  200,  220,  224,  226,  241,  247. 

Patuxet,  burning  of,  54. 

Peasefield,  battle  of,  28  to  34.  Situation  of,  30.  Date  of 
battle,  253. 

Pejepscot,  Fort,  taken,  144,  232. 

Pemaquid,  situation  of,  181,  taking  of,  255. 

Penobscot,  201,  205,  220,  224,  225,  227. 

Pequots,  war  with,  285. 

Peter,  Awashonks7  son,  56.  Goes  with  Mr.  Church  to  New 
port,  63.  Is  sent  express  to  Plymouth,  64.  At  the  tak 
ing  of  Philip,  99. 

Philip,  King  of  Mount-Hope,  sends  to  Awashonks  to  engage 
her  against  the  English,  16,  17.  Suffers  his  men  to  fall 
upon  Swansey,  22.  Is  pursued  by  the  Army,  25.  His 
escape,  38.  Flees  his  country,  39.  Is  annoyed  by  the 
Mohawks,  50.  Capt.  Turner  makes  spoil  upon  him,  ib. 
Destroys  Sudbury,  ib.  Ambushes  and  kills  Capt.  Wads- 
worth  and  50  men,  JVc/'f ,  ib.  At  the  destroying  of  Clark's 
Garrison,  75.  Lays  in  Ambush  for  Capt.  Church,  84. 


INDEX.  * 

A  narrow  escape,  87.     His  wife  and  son  taken,  ib.     Kil* 

led,  99. 

Phips,  Gov.  Biography  of,  JVbte,  173. 
Pike,  Maj.  151,  152. 
Plymouth,  settlement  of,  268  to  270. 
Poeahontas,  story  of,  283,  284. 
Pocasset,  situation  of,  20.     Fort,  39. 
Ponaganset,  JVbfe,  38. 
Popasquash,  situation  of,  JVo/e,  102. 

Port-Royal,  213,216,  217,  220  to  222,  235,  236,  241,  244v 
Portsmouth,  situation  of,  JVbfe,  131. 
Proctor,  Gen.  Defeated,  280. 
Providence,  burning  of,  54,  254. 
Pumham's  escape,  40. 
Punkateese,  (supposed  to  be  the  Pease  Field,)  67. 

Q 

Quebeck,  190,  241,  255. 
Quinnapin,  81,  87. 

R. 

Ralle,  French  Priest,  killed,  290. 

Rasiri,  River,  Massacree  at,  298. 

Rehoboth,  burning  of,  254. 

Reynolds,  Capt.  deceives  Plymouth  settlers,  269. 

Rogers,  Capt.  222,  246. 

Roundhead,  Indian  Chief,  298. 

Russell's  Garrison,  JVbfe,  38. 

S. 

Sabin,  Mr.  Church's  Pilot,  67. 
Sassarnon,  sent  by  Awashonks  to  invite  Mr.  Church  to  her 

dance,  16.     Is  murdered  by  Philip's  men,  20. 
Savage,  Ensign,  wounded,  25. 
Scattacook,  Philip's  quarters,  50. 
Schenectady,  destruction  of,  236. 
Scottaway,  Capt.  139. 
Sharkee,  Monsieur,  223,  233,  234,  24T. 
Signecto,  220,  223,  246. 
Sippican,  situation  of,  84,  116. 
Smith,  John,  Capt.  surveys  the  coast  of  New-England,  268. 

Story  of,  283,  284. 
Smith.  Thomas,  Capt.  221,  222,  246. 
Southack,  Capt.  219,  235,  246. 
Southworth,  B.  in  the  battle  of  the  Peas  Field,  32. 
Southworth,  Capt.  138,  160, 


Xil  INTRODUCTION; 

It  has  by  many  been  solicited,  that  the  old  history  should 
be  given  them  entire;  that  is,  in  the  same  language  and 
style  of  the  old;  others-,  that  it  should  appear  in  a  more 
modern  style.  But  it  will  be  recollected,  that  in  the  pro 
posals  issued  for  its  republication,  it  was  particularly  ex 
pressed,  to  publish  it  "  without  alteration."  By  so  doing, 
it  was  thought,  we  should  best  comply  with  the  wishes  of 
the  majority  of  our  patrons.  And  in  the  language  of  the 
author,  to  let  it  "go  down  to  posterity  with  its  own  inter 
nal  marks  of  originality." 

It  is  therefore  presented  with  no  material  alteration  in 
style;  it  being  plain  and  simple,  and  that  always  becomes  a 
narrative. 

A  multitude  of  literal  errors  have  been  detected,  inas^- 
much,  as  the  nature  of  the  work  would  admit. 

Much  care  and  attention  have  been  taken  in  preparing  an 
Index  to  the  whole  work.  This  very  essential  companion 
was  not  added  to  the  former  editions,  nor  was  it  so  neces 
sary  as  to  the  present;  but  it  is  too  much  neglected  by  the 
generality  of  Book  Makers.  In  a  book  of  three  or  four 
hundred  pages,  unless  a  person  be  very  well  acquainted 
with  it,  he  will  soon  lose  as  much  time  in  searching  for  par 
ticulars,  as  would  be  required  to  make  an  Index.  This 
among  two  or  three  thousand  people  is  no  small  sum  to  lose, 
for  "  time  is  money."  In  short,  a  book  without  an  Index, 
"  is  as  a  man  deprived  of  the  faculty  of  speech." 

Nearly  all  the'Notes  have  been  added  to  this  edition;  all, 
excepting  at  page  20,  23,  25,  30,  the  last  at  35,  that  at  40, 
the  first' at  46,  the  one  at  47,  the  second  and  third  at  50, 
that  at  64,  the  two  at  65,  the  one  at  69,  the  one  at  77,  that 
at  83,  the  first  at  95,  that  at  102,  the  first  at  105,  that  at 
107,  the  first  at  116. 

With  regard  to  the  Appendix,  great  pains  have  been 
taken  to  collect  the  most  important  facts,  and  to  dispose 
and  treat  them  in  the  best  manner.  And  no  pains  nor  ex 
penses  have  been  spared  to  render  the  whole  work,  as  good 
as  possible,  in  its  execution. 

The  publisher  takes  this  opportunity  of  returning  his 
grateful  respects  to  all  who  have  patronized  him  in  his  un 
dertaking,  and  with  pleasure  subscribes  himself,  their  much 
obliged,  and  very  humble  servant. 

SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE. 

fotlon,  June   17,   1825. 


THE  subject  of  this  following  narrative,  offering  itself  to 
your  friendi y  perusal,  relates  to  thf  former  and  later  wars  of 
New-England,  which  I  myself  was  not  a  little  concerned  in: 
For  in  the  year  1675,  that  unhappy  arid  bloody  Indian  war 
broke  ont  in  Plymouth  colony,  where  I  was  then  building, 
and  beginning  a  plantation  at  a  place  called  by  the  Indians 
Sogkonate,  and  since  by  the  English  Little-Compton.  I 
was  the  first  Englishman  that  built  upon  that  neck,  which 
was  full  of  Indians.  My  head  and  hands  were  full  about 
settling  a  new  plantation  where  nothing  was  brought  to; 
no  preparation  of  dwelling-house,  or  out-houses,  or  fencing 
made.  Horses  and  cattle  were  to  be  provided,  ground  to 
be  cleared  and  broken  up;  and  the  utmost  caution  to  be 
used,  to  keep  myself  free  from  offending  my  Indian  neigh 
bours  all  round  about  me.  While  I  was  thus  busily  employ 
ed,  and  all  my  time  and  strength  laid  out  in  this  laborious 
undertaking,  I  received  a  commission  from  the  government 
to  engage  in  their  defence:  and  with  my  commission  I  re 
ceived  another  heart,  inclining  me  to  put  forth  my  strength 
in  military  service:  and  through  the  grace  of  God  I  wras 
spirited  for  that  work,  and  direction  in  it  was  renewed  to 
me  day  by  day.  And  although  many  of  the  actions  that  I 
was  concerned  in  were  very  difficult  and  dangerous,  yet  my 
self,  and  those  who  went  with  me  voluntarily  in  the  ser 
vice,  had  our  lives,  for  the  most  part,  wonderfully  preserv 
ed,  by  the  overruling  hand  of  the  Almighty,  from  first  to 
last;  which  doth  aloud  bespeak  our  praises:  and  to  declare 
his  wonderful  works  is  our  indispensable  duty.  I  was  ever 

2 


X  INDEX. 

Southworth,  Nathaniel,  68. 

Splitlog,  Indian  Chief,  298. 

Squanto,  visits  the  pilgrims,  282. 

St.  Clair's  defeat,  296. 

Sudbury,  burned,  50,  257. 

Swarizey,  Philip's  men  begin  the  war  at,  22.- 

T. 

Taconnock,  Fort,  taken,  181. 

Talcot,  Maj.  94. 

Tallapoose  Towns,  destroyed,  391. 

Talledga,  battle  of,  301. 

Tallushalches,  battle  of,  300. 

Tecumseh,  death  of,  299. 

Tippecano-e,  battle  of,  297. 

Tispaquin,  Capt.  75.     Is  beset  by  Church  in  a  swamp,  91. 

Delivers  himself  up,  118.     Is  put  to  death,  ib. 
Toby,  68,  his  mother  taken,  ib. 

Totoson,  attacked  in  a  swamp,  91.    Escapes,  92.    Dies,  95. 
Turner,  Capt.  makes  spoil  upon  Philip,  50. 
Tyask's  wife  taken,  84. 

V. 

Vilboon,  196,  199. 
Villeau,  taken,  203. 

W. 

Waldron,  Maj.  his  daughter,  131.     Biography  of,  JVb/e,  155. 

Walley,  Maj.  131,  l44,  173,  182. 

Warwick,  desolation  of,  54,  254. 

Washington's  expedition,  291,  292. 

Wayne,  Gen.  defeats  the  Indians,  297. 

Weetamore,  35. 

Westbrook,  Col.  his  expedition,  289. 

Wetuset-Hills,  Philip's  quarters,  50. 

Whale-Boats,  effects  of,  206,  242. 

White,  Gen.  defeats  the  Indians,  301. 

Wllcox,  Daniel,  57.    * 

Williams,  Mr.  Rev.  and  family  captivated,  207,  287,  2E8. 

Williams,  Roger,  50. 

Williamson,  Capt.  216,  245. 

Winslow,  Josiah,  Gov.  39,  118. 

y. 

York,  Joseph,  Pilot,  189. 


BY    THE    EDITOR. 

THE  first  edition  of  this  history  was  printed  at  Boston, 
in  1716,  in  a  quarto  form.  It  was  reprinted  in  Newport, 
in  1772,  and  being  the  most  minute,  as  well  as  most  authen 
tic  account  of  Philip's  war,  it  has  always  beer,  sought  after 
by  all  who  have  known  of  its  existence.  And  notwithstand 
ing  the  style,  &c.  in  which  it  was  written,  it  was  read  With 
eagerness  until  it  almost  entirely  disappeared.  Its  repub- 
lication  has  often  been  suggested,  and  by  a  number  of  dif 
ferent  persons;  but  for  want  of  exertion,  or  energy,  or  both, 
it  did  not  appear.  The  present  publisher  was  induced  to 
undertake  it  from  a  conviction,  that,  "  every  particle  of  his 
torical  truth  is  precious,"  but  more  especially,  when  relating 
to  such  an  early  period  of  our  history.  Therefore,  he  flat 
ters  himself,  that  this  will  be  taken  as  a  sufficient  apolojrf 
for  his  appearance  before  the  public  at  this  time,  and  begs 
ercuse  from  the  fashionable  task  of  the  present  day,  of 
making  apologies  about  apologies,  &c.  &c. 

It  has  often  been  mentioned,  and  by  those  supposed  to  be 
considerably  well  acquainted  with  the  history  of  our  coun 
try,  that  Mr.  Church's  history  is  all  comprised  in  other 
works;  to  such,  I  will  only  observe,  that  some  authors  have 
taken  up  parts  of  it,  but  no  one,  nor  all  of  them,  have  taken 
up  the  whole.  Even  Hutchinson,  who  generally  went  into 
particulars,  professes  not  to  go  into  the  particulars  of  Phil 
ip's  war;  yet,  he  takes  notice  of  the  particular  questions 
and  answers  of  the  witch  affairs  of  Salem.  Hubbard  is 
more  particular  than  most  authors  on  that  war,  but  the  ac 
counts  do  not  exactly  agree  with  those  of  Mr.  Church, 
whose  correctness  has  never  been  doubted,  nor  does  he  en 
ter  into  all  the  particulars. 

Some  who  have  pretended  to  treat  particularly  of  Phil 
ip's  war,  have  entirely  omitted  the*  extraordinary  enter 
prise  of  Capt.  Church,  in  the  surprise  and  capture  of  ANNA- 
WON.  To  omit  which  in  this  history,  is  what  it  would  be  to 
omit  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in  a  history  of  the 
Revolution. 


XIV  TO    THE    READER. 

very  sensible  of  my  own  littleness,  and  unfitness  to  be  em 
ployed  in  such  great  services;  but  calling  to  mind  that  God 
is  strong,  I  endeavoured  to  put  all  my  confidence  in  him, 
•and  by  his  almighty  power  was  carried  through  every  diffi 
cult  action:  and  my  desire  is  that  his  name  may  have  the 
praise. 

It  was  ever  my  intent,  having  laid  myself  under  a  solemn 
promise,  that  the  many  and  repeated  favours  of  God  to  my 
self,  and  those  with  me  in  the  service,  might  be  published 
for  generations  to  come.  And  now  my  great  age  requiring 
•my  dismission  from  service  in  the  militia,  and  to  put  off  my 
armour,  I  am  willing  that  the  great  and  glorious  works  of 
Almighty  God,  to  us  children  of  men,  should  appear  to  the 
world;  and  having  my  minutes  by  me,  my  son  has  taken 
the  care  and  pains  to  collect  from  them  the  ensuing  narra 
tive  of  many  passages  relating  to  the  former  and  latter 
wars;  which  I  have  had  the  perusal  of,  and  find  nothing 
amiss  as  to  the  truth  of  it;  and  with  as  little  reflection  upon 
any  particular  person  as  might  be,  either  alive  or  dead. 

And  seeing  every  particle  of  historical  truth  is  precious; 
I  hope  the  reader  will  pass  a  favourable  censure  upon  an 
old  soldier,  telling  of  the  many  rencounters  he  has  had,  and 
yet  is  come  off  alive.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  remember  what 
a  great  number  of  families,  in  this  and  the  neighbouring 
provinces  in  New-England,  did,  during  the  war,  enjoy  a 
great  measure  of  liberty  and  peace  by  the  hazardous  sta 
tions  and  marches  of  those  engaged  in  military  exercises, 
who  were  a  wall  unto  them  on  this  side  and  on  that  side. 

I  desire  prayers,  that  I  may  be  enabled  well  to  accom 
plish  my  spiritual  warfare,  and  that  I  may  be  more  than 
conqueror  through  Jusus  Christ  loving  of  rne. 

BENJAMIN  CHURCH 


THE 

HISTORY 

OF 


KING  PHILIP'S  -WAR,  &C. 


IN  the  year  1674  Mr.  Benjamin  Church,  of 
Duxbury,  being  providentially  at  Plymouth,  in 
the  time  of  the  court,  fell  into  acquaintance  with 
Capt.  John  Akny,  of  Rhode-Island.  Capt.  Al- 
my,  with  great  importunity,  invited  him  to  ride 
with  him,  and  view  that  part  of  Plymouth  Colony 
that  lay  next  to  Rhode-Island,  known  then  by 
their  Indian  names  of  Pocasset  and  Sogkomite. 
Among  other  arguments  to  persuade  him,  he  told 
him  the  soil  was  very  rich,  and  the  situation  pleas 
ant:  persuades  him  by  all  means  to  purchase  of 
the  company  some  of  the  court  grant  rights.  He 
accepted  his  invitation,  views  the  country,  and 
was  pleased  with  it;  makes  a  purchase,  settled  a 
farm,  found  the  gentlemen  of  the  Island  very  civil 
and  obliging.  And  being  himself  a  person  of  un 
common  activity  and  industry,  he  soon  erected  two 
buildings  upon  his  farm,  and  gained  a  good  ac 
quaintance  with  the  natives;  got  much  into  their 
favour,  and  was  in  a  little  time  in  great  esteem 


among  them. 


16  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

The  next  spring  advancing,  while  Mr.  Church 
was  diligent!)/  settling  his  new  farm,  stocking,  leas 
ing  and  disposing  of  his  affairs,  and  had  a  fine  pros 
pect  of  doing  no  small  things;  and  hoping  that  his 
good  success  would  be  inviting  to  other  good  men  to 
become  his  neighbours:  Behold!  the  rumour  of  a 
war  between  the  English  and  the  natives  gave  check 
to  his  projects.  People  began  to  be  very  jealous 
of  the  Indians,  and  indeed  they  had  no  small  rea 
son  to  suspect,  that  they  had  formed  a  design  of  war 
upon  the  English.  Mr.  Church  had  it  daily  sug 
gested  to  him  that  the  Indians  were  plotting  a 
bloody  design.  That  Philip,  the  great  Mount- 
Hope  Sachem,  was  leader  therein;  and  so  it  prov 
ed,  he  was  sending  his  messengers  to  all  the  neigh 
bouring  Sachems,  to  engage  them  into  a  confede 
racy  with  him  in  the  war. 

Among  the  rest  he  sent  six  men  to  Awashonks, 
Squaw  Sachem  of  the  Sogkonate  Indians,  to  en 
gage  her  in  his  interest:  Awashonks  so  far  listen 
ed  unto  them,  as  to  call  her  subjects  together,  to 
make  a  great  dance,  which  is  the  custom  of  that 
nation  when  they  advise  about  momentous  affairs. 
But  what  does  Awashonks  do,  but  sends  away 
<  wo  of  her  men  that  well  understood  the  English 
language,  Sassamon  and  George  by  name,  to  in 
vite  Mr.  Church  to  the  dance.  Mr.  Church  upon 
?he  invitation,  immediately  takes  with  him  Charles 
Hazelton,  his  tenant's  son,  who  well  understood 
the  Indian  language,  and  rode  down  to  the  place 
appointed;  where  they  found  hundreds  of  Indians 
gathered  together  from  all  parts  of  her  dominion. 
Awashonks  herself,  in  a  foaming  sweat,  was  lead 
ing  the  dance;  but  she  was  no  sooner  sensible  of 
Mr.  Church's  arrival,  but  she  broke  off,  sat  down. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  17 

calls  her  nobles  round  her,  orders  Mr.  Church  to 
be  invited  into  her  presence;  compliments  being 
past,  and  each  one  taking  seats,  she  told  him, 
King  Philip  had  sent  six  men  of  his,  with  two  of 
her  people,  that  had  been  over  at  Mount-Hope,* 
to  draw  her  into  a  confederacy  with  him,  in  a  war 
with  the  English,  desiring  him  to  give  her  his  advice 
in  the  case,  and  to  tell  her  the  truth,  whether  the 
Uupame  men,  as  Philip  had  told  her,  were  gath 
ering  a  great  army  to  invade  Philip's  country? 
He  assured  her  he  would  tell  her  the  truth,  and 
give  her  his  best  advice;  then  he  told  her  it  was 
but  a  few  days  since  he  came  from  Plymouth,  and 
the  English  were  then  making  no  preparations  for 
war;  that  he  was  in  company  with  the  principal 
gentlemen  of  the  government,  who  bad  no  dis 
course  at  all. about  war;  and  he  believed  no  thoughts 
about  it.  He  asked  her,  whether  she  thought  he 
would  have  brought  up  his  goods  to  settle  in  that 
place,  if  he  apprehended  an  entering  into  war  with 
so  near  a  neighbour?  [She  seemed  to  be  somewhat 
convinced  by  his  talk,  and  said  she  believed  he 
spoke  the  truth. 

Then  she  called  for  the  Mount-Hope  men,' 
who .  made  a  formidable  appearance,  with  their 
faces  painted,  and  their  hair  trimmed  up  in  comb- 
fashion,  with  their  powder-horns  and  shot-bags  at 
their  backs  ;  which  among  that  nation  is  the  pos- 

*  Or  Mont-Hanp,  a  mountain  in  Bristol. 

This  eminence  is  about  two  miles  norteasterly  from  the 
village  of  Bristol.  It  is  very  steep  on  all  sides.  Its  sumii 
is  a  large  rock,  apparently  composed  of  small  pebbles,  on 
which  is  now  standing  a  small  octagonal  building,  8  or  10 
feet  in  diameter,  and  proportionally  high.  About  this 
mount  was  the  residence  of  King  Philip,  which  renders  it  ' 
famous. 


18  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

ture  and  figure  of  preparednes  for  war.  She  told 
Mr.  Church  these  were  the  persons  that  had 
brought  her  the  report  of  the  English  prepara 
tions  for  war,  and  then  told  them  what  Mr. 
Church  had  said  in  answer  to  it. 

Upon  this  began  a  warm  talk  among  the   In 
dians,  but  it  was  SOOR  silenced,  and   Awashonks 
r>ofteded  to  tell  Mr.   Church,  that  Philip's  mes- 
W  to  \*zr  was,  that  unless  she  would  forthwith 
•*  T  into  a  confederacy  with  him,  in  a  war  against 
,  the  English,  he  would  send  his  men  over  private 
ly,  1o  kill  the  English  cattle,  and  burn  their  hous 
es  on  that  side  the  river,   which  would  provoke 
the   English  to  fall  upon  her,   whom  they  would 
without  doubt  suppose  the  author  of  the  mischief. 
Mr.    Church    told   her  he    was   sorry  to  see   so 
threatning  an   aspect  of  affairs  ;  and   stepping  to 
the  Mount-Hopes,  he  felt  of  their  bags,  and  find 
ing  them    filled  with    bullets,    asked  them  what 
those  bullets  were  for?     They  scoflingly  replied, 
to  shoot  Pigeons  with.* 

Then  Mr.  Church  turned  to  Awashonks,  and 
told  her  if  Philip  was  resolved  to  make  war,  her 
best  way  would  be  to  knock  those  six  Mount- 
Hopes  on  the  head,  and  shelter  herself  under 
the  protection  of  the  English  ;  upon  which  the 
Mount- Hopes  were  for  the  present  dumb.  But 
those  two  of  Awashonk's  men,  who  had  been  at 
Mount- Hope,  expressed  themselves  in  a  furious 
manner  against  his  advice.  And  Little-Eyes, 
one  of  the  Queen's  council,  joined  with  them, 

*  A  man  by  the  name  of  Morton,  who  came  over  soon 
after  the  first  settlers,  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  that 
supplied  the  Indians  with  arms  and  ammunition  in  these 
parts. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  19 

and  urged  Mr.  Church  to  go  aside  with  him 
among  the  bushes,  that  he  might  have  some  pri 
vate  discourse  with  him,  which  other  Indians  im 
mediately  forbid,  being  sensible  of  his  evil  design. 
But  the  Indians  began  to  side  and  grow  very 
warm.  Mr.  Church,  with  undaunted  courage, 
told  the  Mount-Hopes  they  were  bloody  wretch 
es,  and  thirsted  after  the  blood  of  their  English 
neighbours,  who  had  never  injured  them,  but  had 
always  abounded  in  their  kindness  to  them  ;  that 
for  his  own  part,  though  he  desired  nothing  more 
than  peace,  yet,  if  nothing  but  war  would  satisfy 
them,  he  believed  he  should  prove  a  sharp  thorn 
in  their  sides  ;  bid  the  company  observe  those 
men  that  were  of  such  bloody  dispositions,  wheth 
er  Providence  would  suffer  them  to  live  to  see  the 
event  of  the  war,  which  others,  more  peaceably 
disposed,  might  do. 

Then  he  told  Awashonks  he  thought  it  might 
be  most  advisable  for  her  to  send  to  the  Governor 
of  Plymouth,  and  shelter  herself  and  people  under 
his  protection.  She  liked  his  advice,  and  desired 
him  to  go  on  her  behalf  to  the  Plymouth  govern 
ment,  which  he  consented  to  :  and  at  parting  ad 
vised  her.  whatever  she  did,  not  to  desert  the  En 
glish  interest,  and  join  with  her  neighbors  in  a 
rebellion  which  would  certainly  prove  fatal  to  her. 
He  moved  none  of  his  goods  from  his  house,  that 
there  might  not  be  the  least  umbrage  from  such 
an  action.  She  thanked  him  for  his  advice,  and 
sent  two  of  her  men  to  guard  him  to  his  house  ; 
which  when  they  came  there,  urged  him  to  take 
care  to  secure  his  goods,  which  he  refused  for  the 
reasons  before  mentioned  ;  but  desired  the  Indians, 
that  if  what  they  feared  should  happen,  that  they 


1  20  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

would  take  care  of  what  he  left,  and  directed 
them  to  a  place  in  the  woods  where  they  should 
dispose  of  them  ;  which  they  faithfully  observed. 
He  took  his  leave  of  his  guard  and  bid  them 
tell  their  mistress,  that  if  she  continued  steady  in 
her  depcndance  on  the  English,  and  kept  within 
her  own  limits  of  Sogkonate,  he  would  see  her 
again  quickly  ;  and  then  hastened  away  to  Pocas- 
et,*  where  he  met  with  Peter  Nunnuit,  the  bus- 
land  of  the  Queen  of  Poeasset,  who  was  just 
then  come  over  in  a  canoe  from  Mount -Hope. 
{(Peter  told  him  that  there  would  certainly  be  war  ; 
'for  Philip  had  held  a  dance  of  several  weeks  con- 
•  tinuance,  and  had  entertained  the  young  men 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  ;  and  added,  that 
Philip  expected  to  be  sent  for  to  Plymouth;  to  be 
examined  about  Sassamon's  death,  who  was  mur 
dered  at  Assawomset  Ponds,|  knowing  himself 
guilty  of  contriving  that  murder.  The  same 
Peter  told  him  that  he  saw  Mr.  James  Brown  of 
Swanzey,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Gorton,J  who  was  an 

*  Tiverton  shore,  over  against  the  north  end  of  Rhode- 
Island. 

|  Mi ddlebo rough. 

j  This  appears  to  be  the  same  Mr.  Gorton,  a  sectarian, 
who  was  accused  of  "  causing  much  noise  in  New  England," 
in  supporting  his  religous  tenets.  lie  came  to  Boston  in. 
1636  from  London.  He  was  thought  to  be  an  heretic,  but 
from  examination  it  was  not  certain.  He  soon  went  to 
Plymouth,  but  did  not  stay  long  before  he  went  to  Rhode- 
Island  ;  here  it  is  said  his  offence  was  such,  that  he  was  im 
prisoned,  and  afterwards  whipped.  He  went  to  Providence 
in  1640,  where  he  was  very  humanely  treated  by  Mr.  Roger 
Williams.  He  settled  at  Patuxet,  and  here  he  was  accused  of 
seizing  on  the  estates  of  people.  The  governor  of  Massa 
chusetts  ordered  him  to  answer  to  the  same,  which  he  re 
fused,  treating  the  messenger  with  contempt.  But  he  was 
arrested,  carried  to  Boston,  and  had  his  trial,  and  a  cruel 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  21 

interpreter,  and  two  other  mm,  who  brought  a 
letter  from  the  Governor  of  Plymouth  to  Philip. 
He  observed  to  him  further,  that  the  young  men 
wrere  very  eager  to  begin  the  war,  and  would  fain 
have  killed  Mr.  Brown,  but  Philip  prevented  it ; 
telling  them  that  his  father  had  charged  him  to 
show  kindness  to  Mr.  Brown.  In  short,  Philip 
was  forced  to  promise  them,  that  on  the  next 
Lord's  Day,  when  the  English  were  gone  to 
meeting,  they  should  rifle  their  houses,  and  from 
that  time  forward  kill  their  cattle. 

Peter  desired  Mr.  Church  to  go  and  see  his 
wife,  who  was  but  just  up  the  hill  ;  he  went  and 
found  but  few  of  her  people  with  her.  She  said 
they  were  all  gone  against  her  will,  to  the  dances; 
and  she  much  feared  there  would  be  a  war.  Mr. 
Church  advised  her  to  go  to  the  island  and  secure 
herself,  and  those  that  were  with  her  ;  and  send 
to  the  Governor  of  Plymouth,  who  she  knew  was 
her  friend  ;  and  so  left  her,  resolving  to  hasten  to 
Plymouth,  and  wait  on  the  Governor.  And  he 
was  so  expeditious  that  he  was  with  the  Governor 
early  next  morning,  though  he  waited  on  some  of 
the  magistrates  by  the  wray,  who  were  of  the 
council  of  war,  and  also  met  him  at  the  Gover 
nor's.  He  gave  them  an  account  of  his  observa 
tions  and  discoveries,  which  confirmed  their  for 
mer  intelligences,  and  hastened  their  preparation 
for  defence. 

Philip,  according  to  his  promise  to   his  people, 

sentence  was  passed  on  him  ;  being  confined  a  whole  winter 
at  Charles  town  in  heavy  irons,  then  banished  out  of  the 
colony.  At  length  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy  quiet  posses 
sion  of  his  estate  at  Fatuxet,  where  he  lived  to  an  ad 
vanced  age. 


22  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

permitted  them  to  march  out  of  the  neck  on  the 
next  Lord's  Day,  when  they  plundered  the  near 
est  houses  that  the  inhabitants  had  deserted  :  hut 
as  yet  offered  no  violence  to  the  people,  at  least 
none  were  killed.*  However  the  alarm  was  giv 
en  by  their  numbers  and  hostile  equipage,  and  by 
the  prey  they  made  of  what  they  could  find  in 
the  forsaken  houses. 

An  express  came  the  same  day  to  the  Gover 
nor,  who  immediately  gave  orders  to  the  captains 
of  the  towns  to  march  the  greatest  part  of  their 
companies,  and  to  rendezvous  at  Taunton,  on 
Monday  night,  where  Major  Bradford  was  to  re 
ceive  them,  and  dispose  them  under  Capt.  (now 
made  Major)  Cutwrorth,f  of  Scituate.  The  Gov 
ernor  desired  Mr.  Church  to  give  them  his  com 
pany,  and  to  use  his  interest  in  their  behalf,  with 
the  gentlemen  of  Rhode-Island.  He  complied 
with  it,  and  they  marched  the  next  day.  Major 
Bradford  desired  Mr.  Church,  with  a  commanded 
party,  consisting  of  English  and  some  friendly 
Indians,  to  march  in  the  front,  at  some  distance 
from  the  main  body.  Their  orders  were  to  keep 
so  far  before  as  not  to  be  in  sight  of  the  army. 
And  so  they  did,  for  by  the  way  they  killed  a 
deer,  fleed,  roasted,  and  eat  the  most  of  him,  be 
fore  the  army  came  up  with  them  ;  but  the  Ply 
mouth  forces  soon  arrived  at  Swanzey,  and  were 
chiefly  posted  at  Major  Brown's  and  Mr.  Mile's| 

*  On  the  24th  of  June,  in  the  morning,  one  of  the  inhab 
itants  of  Rehoboth  was  fired  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians, 
and  the  hilt  of  his  sword  shot  off.  The  same  day  several 
were  killed  at  S\vanzey. — HUTCHI.VSON. 

t  Cudworth. — HUTCHINSON,  HUBBARD. 

J  The  house  of  Mr.  Miles,  Minister  of  Swanzey,  was 
converted  into  a  garrison. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  2i3 

garrisons  ;  and  were  there  soon  joined  with  those 
that  came  from  Massachusetts,  who  had  entered 
into  a  confederacy  with  their  Plymouth  brethren, 
against  the  perfidious  heathens. 

The  enemy,  who  began  their  hostilities  with 
plundering,  and  destroying  cattle,  did  not  long 
content  themselves  with  that  game  ;  they  thirsted 
for  English  blood,  and  they  soon  broached  it  ; 
killing  two  men  in  the  way  not  far  from  Mr. 
Mile's  garrison  ;  and  soon  after,  eight  more  at 
Mattapoiset  ;*  upon  whose  bodies  they  exercised 
more  than  brutish  barbarities  ;  beheading,  dis 
membering  and  mangling  them,  and  exposing  them 
in  the  most  inhuman  manner ;  which  gashed  and 
ghostly  objects  struck  a  damp  on  all  beholders. 

The  enemy,  flushed  with  these  exploits,  grew 
yet  bolder,  and  skulking  every  where  in  the  bush 
es,  shot  at  all  passengers,  and  killed  many  that 
ventured  abroad.  They  came  so  near  as  to  shoot 
down  two  sentinels  at  Mr.  Mile's  garrison,  under 
the  very  noses  of  most  of  our  forces.  These 
provocations  drew  out  the  resentment  of  some  of 
Capt.  Prentice's  troops,  who  desired  they  might 
have  liberty  to  go  out  and  seek  the  enemy  in  their 
own  quarters.  Quarter  Masters  Gill  and  Belcher 
commanded  the  parties  drawn  out,  who  earnestly 
desired  Mr.  Church's  company.  They  provided 
him  a  horse  and  furniture,  his  own  being  out  of 
the  way  ;  he  readily  complied  with  their'  desires, 
and  was  soon  mounted. 

This  party  was  no  sooner  .over  Mile's  bridge, 
but  were  fired  upon  by  an  ambuscade  of  about  a 
dozen  Indians,  as  they  were  afterwards  discover- 

*  In  Swanzey4 


24  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

ed  to  be.  When  they  drew  off,  the  pilot  was 
mortally  wounded  Mr.  Belcher  received  a  shot 
in  his  knee,  and  his  horse  was  killed  under  him. 
Mr.  Gill  was  struck  with  a  musket  ball  on  the 
side  of  his  belly  ;  but  being  clad  with  a  buff  coat, 
and  some  thickness  of  paper  under  it,  it  never 
broke  his  skin.  The  troopers  were  surprised  to 
see  both  their  commanders  wounded,  and  wheeled 
off;  but  Mr.  Church  persuaded,  at  length  storm 
ed  and  stamped,  and  told  them  it  was  a  shame  to 
run,  and  leave  a  wounded  man  there  to  become  a 
prey  to  the  barbarous  enemy  ;  for  the  pilot  yet 
sat  on  his  horse,  though  so  mazed  with  the  shot, 
as  not  to  have  sense  to  guide  him  ;  Mr.  Gill  se 
conded  him,  and  offered,  though  much  disabled,  to 
assist  in  bringing  him  off.  Mr.  Church  asked  a 
stranger,  who  gave  him  his  company  in  that  action, 
if  he  would  go  with  him  and  fetch  off  the  wounded 
man.  He  readily  consented,  and  they,  with  Mr. 
Gill,  went  ;  but  the  wounded  man  fainted  and  fell 
dead  from  his  horse  before  they  came  to  him  ;  but 
Mr.  Church  and  the  stranger  dismounted,  took 
up  the  man,  and  laid  him  before  Mr.  Gill  on  his 
horse.  Mr.  Church  told  the  other  two,  if  they 
would  take  care  of  the  dead  man,  he  would  go 
and  fetch  his  horse  back,  which  was  going  off  the 
causey  toward  the  enemy  ;  but  before  he  got  over 
the  causey  he  saw  the  enemy  run  to  the  right  into 
the  neck.  He  brought  back  the  horse,  and  called 
earnestly  and  repeatedly  to  the  army  to  come  over 
and  fight  the  enemy  ;  and  while  he  stood  calling 
and  persuading,  the  skulking  enemy  returned  to 
their  old  stand,  and  all  discharged  their  guns  at 
him,  though  every  shot  missed  him  ;  yet  one  of 
the  army,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  received 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAK,  25 

one  of  the  balls  in  his  foot.  Mr.  Church  now 
•Hfegan  (no  succour  coming  to  him)  to  think  in  time 
to  retreat;  saying,  "the  Lord  have  mercy  on  us," 
if  such  a  handful  of  Indians  shall  thus  dare  such 
an  army ! 

Upon  this  it  was  immediately  resolved,  and  or 
ders  were  given  to  march  doAvn  into  the  neck, 
and  having  passed  the  bridge  and  causeway,  the 
direction  was  to  extend  both  wings,  which  being 
not  well  heeded  by  those  that  remained  in  the 
centre,  some  of  them  mistook  their  friends  for 
their  enemies,  and  made  a  fire  upon  them  in  the 
right  wing,  and  wounded  that  noble  heroic  youth, 
Ensign  Savage,  in  the  thigh,  but  it  happily  proved 
but  a  flesh  wound.  They  marched  until  they 
came  to  the  narrow  of  the  neck,  at  a  place  called 
Keekamuit,*  where  they  took  down  the  heads  of 
eight  Englishmen  that  were  killed  at  the  head  of 
Mattapoiset  neck,  and  set  upon  poles,  after  the 
barbarous  manner  of  those  savages.  There  Philip 
had  staved  ail  his  drums,  and  conveyed  all  his 
canoes  to  the  east  side  of  Mattapoiset  river  ; 
hence  it  was  concluded,  by  those  that  were  ac 
quainted  with  the  motions  of  those  people,  that 
they  had  quitted  the  neck.  Mr.  Church  told 
them  that  Philip  was  doubtless  gone  ovsr  to  Po- 
casset  side,  to  engage  those  Indians  in  rebellion 
with  him  ;  which  they  soon  found  to  be  true. 
The  enemy  were  not  really  beaten  out  of  Mount- 
Hope  neck,  though  it  was  true  they  fled  from 
thence  ;  yet  it  was  before  any  pursued  them.  It 
was  only  to  strengthen  themselves,  and  to  gain  a 
more  advantageous  post.  However,  some,  and 

*  Upper  part  of  Bristol. 

3 


£6  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

not  a  few,  pleased  themselves  with  the  fancy  of  a 
mighty  conquest. 

A  grand  council  was  held,  and  a  resolve  passed 
to  build  a  fort  there,  to  maintain  the  first  ground 
they  had  gained,  by  the  Indians  leaving  it  to 
them  ;  and  to  speak  the  truth,  it  must  be  said, 
that  as  they  gained  not  that  field  by  their  sword, 
nor  by  their  bow,  so  it  was  rather  their  fear  than 
their  courage,  that  obliged  them  to  set  up  the 
marks  of  their  conquest,  Mr.  Church  looked 
upon  it,  and  talked  of  it  with  contempt,  and  urged 
hard  the  pursuing  of  the  enemy  on  Pocasset  side, 
and  with  the  greater  earnestness,  because  of  his 
promise  made  to  Awashonks,  before  mentioned. 
The  council  adjourned  themselves  from  Mount- 
Hope  to  llehoboth,  where  Mr.  Treasurer  South- 
worth,  being  weary  of  his  charge  of  Commissary 
General,  (provision  being  scarce  and  difficult  to 
be  obtained  for  the  army,  that  now  lay  still  to 
cover  the  people  from  no  body,  while  they  were 
building  a  fort  for  nothing)  retired,  nnd  th«  power 
and  trouble  of  that  post  was  left  with  Mr.  Church, 
who  still  urged  the  commanding  officers  to  move 
over  to  Pocasset  side,  to  pursue  the  enemy,  arid 
kill  Philip,  which  would  in  his  opinion,  be  more 
probable  to  keep  possession  of  the  neck,  than  to 
tarry  to  build  a  fort.  He  was  still  restless  on 
that  side  of  the  river,  and  the  rather  because  of 
his  promise  to  the  Squaw  Sachem  of  Sogkonate; 
and  Capt.  Fuller  aiso  urged  the  same,  until  at 
length  there  came  further  orders  concerning  the 
fort;  and  withal  an  order  for  Capt.  Fuller  with 
six  files  to  cross  the  river  to  the  side  so  much  in 
sisted  on,  and  to  try  if  he  could  get  speech  with 
any  of  the  Pocasset  or  Sogkonate  Indians,  and 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  27 

that  Mr.  Church  should  be  his  second.  Upon 
the  Captain's  receiving  his  orders,  he  asked  Mr. 
Church  whether  he  was  willing  to  engage  in  this 
enterprise  ;  to  whom  it  was  indeed  too  agreeable 
to  be  declined  ;  though  he  thought  the  enterprise 
was  hazardous  enough  for  them  to  have  more  men 
assigned  them.  Capt.  Fuller  told  him,  that  for 
his  own  part  he  was  grown  ancient  and  heavy,  he 
feared  the  travel  and  fatigue  would  be  too  much 
for  him  ;  but  Mr.  Church  urged  him,  and  told 
him  he  would  cheerfully  excuse  him  his  hardship 
and  travel,  and  take  that  part  to  himself,  if  he 
might  but  go  ;  for  he  had  rather  do  any  thing  in 
the  world  than  to  stay  there  to  build  the  fort. 

Then  they  drew  out  the  number  assigned  them, 
and  marched  the  same  night  to  the  ferry,  and 
were  transported  to  Rhode-Island,  from  whence, 
the  next  night,  they  got  passage  over  to  Pocasset 
side,  in  Rhode-Island  boats,  and  concluded  there 
to  dispose  themselves  into  two  ambuscades  before 
day,  hoping  to  surprise  some  of  the  enemy  by 
their  falling  into  one  or  other  of  their  ambush- 
ments.  But  Capt.  Fuller's  party,  being  troubled 
with  the  epidemical  plague,  lust  after  tobacco,  must 
needs  strike  fire  to  smoke  it ;  and  thereby  discov 
ered  themselves  to  a  party  of  the  enemy  coming 
up  to  them,  who  immediately  fled  with  great  pre 
cipitation. 

This  ambuscade  drew  off  about  break  of  day, 
perceiving  they  were  discovered,  the  other  contin 
ued  in  their  post  until  the  time  assigned  them, 
and  the  light  and  heat  of  the  sun  rendered  their 
station  both  insignificant  and  troublesome,  and 
then  returned  to  the  place  of  rendezvous,  where 
they  were  acquainted  with  the  other  party's  dis~ 


KING    PHILIPS    WAR. 

appointment,  and  the  occasion  of  it.  Mr.  Church 
calls  for  the  breakfast  he  had  ordered  to  be 
brought  over  in  the  boat ;  but  the  man  that  had 
the  charge  of  it  confessed  that  he  was  asleep 
when  the  boats-men  called  him,  and  in  haste  came 
itway,  and  never  thought  of  it.  It  happened  that 
Mr.  Church  had  a  few  cakes  of  rusk  in  his  pock- 
t't,  that  Madam  Cranston  (the  governor  of  Rhode 
Island's  lady)  gave  him  when  he  came  off  the 
island,  which  he  divided  among  the  company, 
which  was  all  the  provisions  they  had. 

Mr.  Church,  after  their  slender  breakfast,  pro 
posed  to  Capt  Fuller,  that  he  would  march  in 
quest  of  the  enemy,  with  such  of  the  company  as 
would  be  willing  to  march  with  him,  which  he 
complied  with,  though  with  a  great  deal  of  scru 
ple,  because  of  his  small  number,  and  the  extreme 
hazard  he  foresaw  must  attend  them. 

But  some  of  the  company  reflected  upon  Mr. 
Church,  that  notwithstanding  his  talk  on  the  oth 
er  side  of  the  river,  he  had  not  shown  them  any 
Indians  since  they  came  over.  Which  now  mov 
ed  him  to  tell  them,  that  if  it  was  their  desire  to 
*ee  Indians,  he  believed  he  should  now  soon  show 
them  what  they  should  say  was  enough. 

T-he  number  allowed  him  soon  drew  off  to  him, 
which  could  not  be  many,  because  their  whole 
company  consisted  of  no  more  than  thirty-six. 
They  moved  towards  Sogkonate,  until  they  came 
to  the  brook  that  runs  into  Numaquahqat  neck, 
where  they  discovered  a  fresh  and  plain  track, 
which  they  concluded  to  be  from  the  great  pine 
swamp,  about  a  mile  from  the  road  that  leads  to 
Sogkonate.  Now,  says  Mr.  Church  to  his  men, 
if  we  follow  this  track,  no  doubt  but  we  shall 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  29 

soon  see  Indians  enough.  They  expressed  their 
willingness  to  follow  the  track,  and  moved  in  it, 
but  had  not  gone  far  before  one  of  them  narrowly 
escaped  being  bit  with  a  rattle-snake;  and  the 
woods  that  the  track  led  them  through  was  haunt 
ed  much  with  those  snakes,  which  the  little  com 
pany  seemed  more  to  be  afraid  of  than  the  black 
serpents  they  were  in  quest  of,  and  therefore  bent 
their  course  another  way,  to  a  place  where  they 
thought  it  probable  to  find  some  of  the  enemy. 
Had  they  kept  the  track  to  the  pine  swamp,  they 
had  been  certain  of  meeting  Indians  enough  ;  but 
not  so  certain  that  any  of  them  would  have  return 
ed  to  give  an  account  how  many. 

Now  they  passed  down  into  Punkatees  neck ; 
and  in  their  march  discovered  a  large  wigwam 
full  of  Indian  stuff,  which  the  soldiers  were  for 
loading  themselves  with,  until  Mr.  Church  forbid 
it,  telling  them  they  might  expect  soon  to  have 
their  hands  full,  and  business  without  caring  for 
plunder.  Then  crossing  the  head  of  the  creek 
into  the  neck,  they  again  discovered  fresh  Indian 
tracks  very  lately  passed  before  them  into  the 
neck.  They  then  got  privately  and  undiscovered 
to  the  fence  of  Capt.  Almy's  peas  field,  and  di 
vided  into  two  parties,  Mr.  Church  keeping  the 
one  party  with  himself,  sent  the  other  with  Lake, 
who  was  acquainted  with  the  ground  on  the  other 
side.  Two  Indians  were  soon  discovered  coming 
out  of  the  peas  field  towards  them  ;  when  Mr. 
Church  and  those  that  were  with  him  concealed 
themselves  from  them,  by  falling  flat  on  the  ground; 
but  the  other  division  not  using  the  same  caution, 
were  seen  hy  the  enemy,  which  occasioned  them 
to  run  ;  which,  when  Mr.  Church  perceived,  he 


:30  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

showed  himself  to  them,  and  called,  telling  them 
he  desired  but  to  speak  with  them,  and  would  not 
hurt  them  ;  but  they  ran,  and  Church  pursued. 
The  Indians  climbed  over  a  fence,  and  one  of 
them  facing  about  discharged  his  piece,  but  with 
out  effect,  on  the  English.  One  of  the  English 
soldiers  ran  up  to  the  fence  and  fired  upon  him 
that  had  discharged  his  piece  ;  and  they  concluded 
by  the  yelling  they  heard,  that  the  Indian  was 
wounded  ;  but  the  Indians  soon  got  into  the 
^xiekets,  whence  they  saw  them  no  more  for  the 
present. 

Mr.  Church  then  marching  over  a  plain  piece 
of  ground,  where  the  woods  were  very  thick  on 
one  side  ;  ordered  his  little  company  to  march  at 
a  double  distance,  to  make  as  big  a  show,  if  they 
should  be  discovered,  as  might  be  ;  but  before 
tht  y  saw  any  body,  they  were  saluted  with  a  vol 
ley  of  fifty  or  sixty  guns  ;  some  bullets  came  sur 
prisingly  near  Mr.  Church,  who  starting,  looked 
behind  him,  to  see  what  was  become  of  his  men, 
expecting  to  have  seen  half  of  them  dead,  but 
seeing  them  all  upon  their  legs,  and  briskly  firing 
at  the  smokes  of  the  enemies  guns,  for  that  was 
all  that  was  then  to  be  seen,  he  blessed  God,  and 
called  to  his  men  not  to  discharge  all  their  guns  at 
once,  lest  the  enemy  should  take  the  advantage  of 
such  an  opportunity  to  run  upon  them  with  their 
hatchets. 

Their  next  motion  was  immediately  into  the 
peas  field.*  When  they  came  to  the  fence,  Mr. 
Church  bid  as  many  as  had  not  discharged  their 
guns,  to  clap  under  the  fence,  and  lie  close,  while 

*  Tiverton,  about  half  a  mile  above  Fogland  ferry. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  31 

the  other  at  some  distance  in  the  field,  stood  to 
charge;  hoping  that  if  the  enemy  should  creep  to 
the  fence,  to  gain  a  shot  at  those  that  were  charg 
ing  their  guns,  they  might  be  surprised  by  those 
that  lay  under  the  fence;  but  casting  his  eyes  to 
the  side  of  the  hill  above  them,  the  hill  seemed  to 
move,  being  covered  over  with  Indians,  with  their 
bright  guns  glittering  in  the  sun,  and  running  in  a 
circumference  with  a  design  to  surround  them. 

Seeing  such  multitudes  surrounding  him  and  his 
little  company,  it  put  him  upon  thinking  what  was 
become  of  the  boats  that  were  ordered  to  attend 
him;  and  looking  up  he  spied  them  ashore  at  San 
dy-Point,  on  the  island  side  of  the  river,  with  a 
number  of  horse  and  foot  by  them,  and  wondered 
what  should  be  the  occasion,  until  he  was  after 
wards  informed,  that  the  boats  had  been  over  that 
morning  from  the  island,  and  had  landed  a  party 
of  men  at  Fogland,  that  were  designed  in  Punka- 
tee's  neck,  to  fetch  off  some  cattle  and  horses, 
but  were  ambuscaded,  and  many  of  them  wounded 
by  the  enemy. 

Now  our  gentleman's  courage  and  conduct  were 
both  put  to  the  test;  he  encourages  his  men,  and 
orders  some  to  run  and  take  a  wall  for  shelter  be 
fore  the  enemy  gained  it.  It  was  time  for  them 
now  to  think  of  escaping  if  they  knew  which  way. 
Mr.  Church  orders  his  men  to  strip  to  their  white 
shirts,  that  the  islanders  might  discover  them  to 
be  Englishmen;  and  then  orders  three  guns  to  be 
fired  distinct,  hoping  it  might  be  observed  by  their 
friends  on  the  opposite  shore.  The  men  that 
were  ordered  to  take  the  wall,  being  very  hungry, 
Stopped  ;*«,vh\le  among  the  pease  to  gather  a  few, 
beii^  abjut  four  rods  from  the  wall;  the  enemy 


32  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

from  behind  hailed  them  with  a  shower  of  bullets; 
but  soon  all  but  one  came  tumbling  over  an  old 
hedge  down  the  bank,  where  Mr.  Church  and  the 
rest  were,  and  told  him  that  his  brother,  B.  South- 
worth,  who  was  the  man  that  was  missing,  was 
killed,  that  they  saw  him  fall;  and  so  they  did  in 
deed  see  him  fall,  but  it  was  without  a  shot,  and 
lay  no  longer  than  till  he  had  an  opportunity  to 
clap  a  bullet  into  one  of  the  enemy's  forehead,  and 
then  came  running  to  his  company.  The  mean 
ness  of  the  English  powder  was  now  their  greatest 
misfortune;  when  they  were  immediately  beset 
with  multitudes  of  Indians  who  possessed  them 
selves  of  every  rock,  stump,  tree  or  fence  that  was 
in  sight,  firing  upon  them  without  ceasing;  while 
they  had  no  other  shelter  but  a  small  bank  and  bit 
of  a  water  fence.*  And  yet,  to  add  to  the  disad 
vantage  of  this  little  handful  of  distressed  men,  the 
Indians  also  possessed  themselves  of  the  ruins  of 
a  stone  house  that  overlooked  them;  so  that  now 
they  had  no  way  to  prevent  lying  quite  open  to 
some  or  other  of  the  enemy,  but  to  heap  up  stones 
before  them,  as  they  did,  and  still  bravely  and 
wonderfully  defended  themselves  against  all  the 
numbers  of  the  enemy.  At  length  came  over  one 
of  the  boats  from  the  island  shore,  but  the  enemy 
plied  their  shot  so  warmly  to  her  as  made  her  keep 
at  some  distance  ;  Mr.  Church  desired  them  to 
send  their  canoe  ashore  and  fetch  them  on  board; 
but  no  persuasions  nor  arguments  could  prevail 
with  them  to  bring  their  canoe  to  shore;  which 
some  of  Mr.  Church's  men  perceiving,  began  to 

*  This  indeed  will  compare  in  the  beginning,  with  Love- 
welPs  Fight.     See  Appendix. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  33 

cry  out,  "  For  God's  sake  to  take  them  off,  for 
their  amunition  was  spent,"  &c.  Mr.  Church 
being  sensible  of  the  danger  of  the  enemy's  hear 
ing  their  complaints,  and  being'  made  acquainted 
with  the  weakness  and  scantiness  of  their  amuni 
tion,  fiercely  called  to  the  boat's  master,  and  bid 
him  either  send  his  canoe  ashore,  or  else  be  gone 
presently,  or  he  would  fire  upon  him. 

Away  goes  the  boat,  and  leaves  them  still  to 
shift  for  themselves;  but  then  another  difficulty 
arose,  the  enemy  seeing  the  boat  leave  them,  were 
reanimated,  and  fired  thicker  and  faster  than  ever; 
upon  which  some  of  the  men  that  were  lightest  of 
foot,  began  to  talk  of  attempting  an  escape  by 
flight,  until  Mr.  Church  solidly  convinced  them 
of  the  impracticableness  of  it;  and  encouraged  them 
by  telling  them,  "  That  he  had  observed  so  much 
of  the  remarkable  and  wonderful  providence  of 
God  in  hitherto  preserving  them,  that  it  encour 
aged  him  to  believe,  with  much  confidence,  that 
God  would  yet  preserve  them;  that  not  a  hair  of 
their  head  should  fall  to  the  ground;  bid  them  be 
patient,  courageous  and  prudently  sparing  of  their 
amunition,  and  he  made  no  doubt  but  they  should 
come  well  oif  yet,"  &,c.  until  his  little  army  again 
resolved,  one  and  all,  to  stay  with,  and  stick  by 
him.  One  of  them,  by  Mr.  Church's  order,  was 
pitching  a  flat  stone  up  on  end  before  him  in  the 
sand,  when  a  bullet  from  the  enemy,  with  a  full 
force,  struck  the  stone,  while  he  was  pitching  it 
on  end;  which  put  the  poor  fellow  in  a  miserable 
fright,  till  Mr.  Church  called  upon  him  to  observe 
"  how  God  directed  the  bullets,  that  the  enemy 
could  not  hit  him  when  in  the  same  place,  yet 
could  hit  the  stone  as  it  was  erected." 


34  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

While  they  were  thus  making  the  best  defence 
they  could  against  their  numerous  enemies,  that 
made  the  woods  ring  with  their  constant  yelling 
and  shouting,  and  night  coming  on,  somebody  told 
Mr.  Church,  they  spied  a  sloop  up  the  river  as  far 
as  Gold  Island,  that  seemed  to  be  coming  down 
towards  them.  He  looked  up  and  told  them  "  suc 
cour  was  now  coming,  for  he  believed  it  was  Capt. 
Golding,  whom  he  knew  to  be  a  man  for  buisness, 
and  would  certainly  fetch  them  off,  if  he  came.55 
The  wind  being  fair,  the  vessel  was  soon  with 
them;  and  Capt.  Golding  it  was.  Mr.  Church, 
as  soon  as  they  came  to  speak  with  one  another, 
desired  hi.n  "to  come  to  anchor  at  such  a  dis 
tance  from  the  shore,  that  he  might  veer  out  his 
cable  and  ride  afloat,  and  let  slip  his  canoe,  that 
it  might  drive  ashore;55  which  direction  Captain 
Golding  observed;  but  the  enemy  gave  him  such 
a  warm  salute,  that  his  sails,  colour  and  stern 
were  full  of  bullet  holes. 

The  canoe  came  ashore,  but  was  so  small  that 
she  would  not  bear  above  two  men  at  a  time;  and 
when  two  were  got  aboard,  they  turned  her  loose 
to  drive  ashore  for  two  more,  and  the  sloop's  com 
pany  kept  the  Indians  in  play  the  while;  but  when 
at  last  it  came  to  Mr.  Church's  turn  to  go  aboard, 
he  had  left  his  hat  and  cutlass  at  the  well  where 
he  went  to  drink,  when  he  first  came  down;  he 
told  his  company,  u  he  would  never  go  off  and 
leave  his  hat  and  cutlass  for  the  Indians;  they 
should  never  have  that  to  reflect  upon  him:55 
though  he  was  much  dissuaded  from  it,  yet  he 
would  go  and  fetch  them.  He  put  all  the  powder 
he  had  left  into  his  gun,  and  a  poor  charge  it  was, 
and  went  presenting  his  gun  to  the  enemy,  until 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  35 

he  took  up  what  he  went  for;  at  his  return  he  dis 
charged  his  gun  at  the  enemy  to  bid  them  farewell 
for  that  time;  but  had  not  powder  enough  to  carry 
the  bullet  half  way  to  them. 

Two  bullets  from  the  enemy  struck  the  canoe 
as  he  went  on  board,  one  grazed  the  hair  of  his 
head  a  little  before;  another  stuck  in  a  small 
stake  that  stood  right  against  the  middle  of  his 
breast. 

Now  this  gentleman  with  his  army,  making  in 
all  20  men,*  himself  and  his  pilot  being  numbered 
with  them,  got  all  safe  on  board  after  six  hours 
engagement  with  300  Indians;  of  whose  number 
we  were  told  afterwards  by  themselves;  a  de- 
liverence  which  that  good  gentleman  often  men 
tions  to  the  glory  of  God  and  his  protecting  provi 
dence.  The  next  day  meeting  with  the  rest  of 
his  little  company,  whom  he  had  left  at  Pocasset, 
that  had  also  a  small  skirmish  with  the  Indians, 
and  had  two  men  wounded,  they  returned  to  the 
Mount-Hope  garrison;  which  Mr.  Church  used  to 
call  the  loosing  fort.  Mr.  Church  then  return 
ing  to  the  island,  to  seek  provision  for  the  army, 
meets  with  Alderman,  a  noted  Indian,  that  was 
just  come  over  from  the  Squaw  Sachem's  cape  of 
Pocasset,  having  deserted  from  her,  and  brought 
over  his  family;  who  gave  him  an  account  of  the 
state  of  the  Indians,  aud  where  each  of  the  Saga 
more's  head  quarters  were.  Mr.  Church  then 
discoursed  with  some  who  knew  the  spot  well 
where  the  Indians  said  Weetamore'sf  head  quar- 

*  Although  some  of  these  had  scarce  courage  enough  for 
themselves,  yet  their  Captain  had  enough  for  himself,  and 
some  to  spare  for  his  friends. — HUBBARD. 

f  Squaw  Sachem  of  Pocasset. 


36  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

ters  were,  and  offered  their  service  to  pilot  him. 
With  this  news  he  hastened  to  the  Mount- Hope 
garrison.  The  army  expressed  their  readiness  to 
embrace  such  an  opportunity. 

All  the  ablest  soldiers  were  now  immediately 
drawn  off,  equipped  and  despatched  upon  this  de 
sign,  under  the  command  of  a  certain  officer;  and 
having  marched  about  two  miles,  viz.  until  they 
came  to  the  cove  that  lies  southwest  from  the 
Mount,  where  orders  were  given  for  a  halt,  the 
commander  in  chief  told  them  he  thought  it  prop 
er  to  take  advice  before  he  went  any  further;  call 
ed  Mr.  Church  and  the  pilot,  and  asked  them, 
"  How  they  knew  that  Philip  and  all  his  men 
were  not  by  that  time  got  to  Weetamore's  camp; 
or  that  all  her  own  men  were  not  by  that  time  re 
turned  to  her  again?"  with  many  more  frightful 
questions.  Mr.  Church  told  him,  "  they  had  ac 
quainted  him  with  as  much  as  they  knew,  and 
that  for  his  part  he  could  discover  nothing  that 
need  to  discourage  them  from  proceeding;  that  he 
thought  it  so  practicable,  that  he,  with  the  pilot, 
would  willingly  lead  the  way  to  the  spot,  and 
hazard  the  brunt.  But  the  chief  commander  in 
sisted  on  this,  "  that  the  enemies'  number  were 
so  great,  and  he  did  not  know  what  numbers  more 
might  be  added  to  them  by  that  time,  and  his 
company  so  small,  that  he  could  not  think  it  prac 
ticable  to  attack  them;"  added  moreover,  cc  that 
if  he  was  sure  of  killing  all  the  enemy,  and  knew 
that  he  must  lose  the  life  of  one  of  his  men  in  the 
action,  he  would  not  attempt  it."  "  Pray  Sir,, 
then,"  replied  Mr.  Church,  "please  to  lead  your 
company  to  yonder  windmill,  on  Rhode- Island, 
and  there  they  will  be  out  of  danger  of  being  killed 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  37 

by  the  enemy,  and  we  shall  have  less  trouble  to 
supply  them  with  provisions."  But  return  he 
would,  and  did,  unto  the  garrison,  until  more, 
strength  came  to  them,  and  a  sloop  to  transport 
them  to  Fall  river,  in  order  to  visit  Weetamore's 
camp.  Mr.  Church,  one  Baxter,  and  Capt.  Hun 
ter,  an  Indian,  proffered  to  go  out  on  a  discovery 
on  the  left  wing,  which  was  accepted.  They  had 
not  marched  above  a  quarter  of  a  mile  before  they 
started  three  of  the  enemy.  Capt.  Hunter  wound 
ed  one  of  them  in  his  knee,  whom,  when  he  came 
up,  he  discovered  to  be  his  near  kinsman;  the  cap 
tive  desired  favour  for  his  squaw,  if  she  should  fall 
into  their  hands,  but  asked  none  for  himself,  ex 
cepting  the  liberty  of  taking  a  whiff  of  tobacco; 
and  while  he  was  taking  his  whiff,  his  kinsman 
with  one  blow  of  his  hatchet  despatched  him. 
Proceeding  to  Weetamore's  camp,  they  were  dis 
covered  by  one  of  the  enemy,  who  ran  in  and  gave 
information,  upon  which  a  lusty  young  fellow  left 
his  meat  upon  his  spit,  running  hastily  out,  told 
his  companions,  he  would  kill  an  Englishman  be 
fore  he  eat  his  dinner;  but  failed  of  his  design, 
being  no  sooner  out  than  shot  down.  The  enc- 
iny's  fires,  and  what  shelter  they  had  was  by  the 
edge  of  a  thick  cedar  swamp,  into  which,  on  this 
alarm,  they  betook  themselves,  and  the  English  as 
nimbly  pursued;  but  were  soon  commanded  back 
by  their  chieftain*,  after  they  were  come  within 
hearing  of  the  cries  of  their  women  and  children, 
and  so  ended  that  exploit;  but  returning  to  their 
sloop  the  enemy  pursued  them,  and  wounded  two 
of  their  men.  The  next  day  they  returned  to  the 
Mounl  Hope  garrison. 
4 


38  KING  PHILIP'S  WAH. 

Soon  after  this,  was  Philip's  head  quarters 
visited  by  some  other  English  forces;  but  Philip 
and  his  gang  had  the  very  fortune  to  escape  what 
Weetamore  and  her's  had;  they  took  into  a 
swamp,  and  their  pursuers  were  commanded  back. 
After  this  Dartmouth's  distresses  required  suc 
cour,  a  great  part  of  the  town  being  laid  desolate, 
and  many  of  the  inhabitants  killed;  the  most  of 
Plymouth  forces  were  ordered  thither;  and  coming 
to  Kussel's  garrison  at  Ponaganset,*  they  met 
with  a  number  of  the  enemy  that  had  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners  on  terms  promised  by  Capt. 
Eels,  of  the  garrison,  and  Ralph  Earl,  who  per 
suaded  them,  by  a  friendly  Indian  he  had  employ 
ed,  to  come  in.  And  had  their  promises  to  the 
Indians  been  kept,  and  the  Indians  fairly  treated, 
it  is  probable  that  most,  if  not  all  the  Indians  in 
those  parts  had  soon  followed  the  example  of  those 
who  had  now  surrendered  themselves;  which  would 
have  been  a  good  step  towards  finishing  the  war. 

*  Or  Aponaganset,  a  river  of  Dartmouth.  Whether  this 
word  ought  to  be  written  with  or  without  the  first  A,  is  tin- 
certain;  nor  do  I  think  it  of  much  consequence;  yet  we 
ought  to  conform  to  the  ancient  manner,  as  most  conducive 
to  uniformity;  for  that  is  preferable  in  most  cases.  On 
the  north  side  of  this  river,  about  a  mile  from  its  mouth,  is 
to  be  seen  the  cellars  of  the  old  garrison;*opposite  to  which 
was  an  Indian  fort.  Tradition  informs  us,  that  some  con 
siderable  manoeuvering  went  on  here  in  those  days.  A  story 
is  handed  down  of  an  Indian  who  was  shot  on  the  opposite 
shore  on  turning  his  back  side  in  defiance.  A  similar  one 
is  related  by  the  people  of  Middleboro',  with  considerable 
plausibility.  But,  whether  it  was  possible  for  one  man  to 
shoot  another  at  the  distance  mentioned  there  I  cannot  say, 
but  should  not  hesitate  to  dispute  that  it  could  be  done  at 
the  present  day.  "Whether  a  circumstance  of  this  kind  o\> 
curred  at  both  these  places  too,  is  a  doubt. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  39 

But  in  spite  of  all  that  Capt.  Eels,  Church,  or 
Earl,  could  say,  argue,  plead,  or  beg,  somebody 
else  that  had  more  power  in  their  hands  improved 
it;  and  without  any  regard  to  the  promises  made 
them  on  their  surrendering  themselves,  they  were 
carried  away  to  Plymouth,  there  sold,  and  trans 
ported  out  of  the  country,  being  about  160  per 
sons.  An  action  so  hateful  to  Mr.  Church,  that 
he  opposed  it  to  the  loss  of  the  good  will  and  re 
spect  of  some  that  before  were  his  good  friends. 
But  while  these  things  were  acting  at  Dartmouth, 
Philip  made  his  escape,  leaving  his  country,  fled 
over  T  aim  ton  river,  and  Rehoboth  plain,  and 
Pautuxet  river,  where  Capt.  Edmunds,  of  Provi 
dence,  made  some  spoil  upon  him,  and  had  prob 
ably  done  more,  but  was  prevented  by  the  com 
ing  of  a  superior  officer,  that  put  him  by.  And 
now  another  fort  was  built  at  Pocasset,*  that 
proved  as  troublesome  and  chargeable  as  that  at 
Mount  Hope;  and  the  remainder  of  the  summer 
was  improved  in  providing  for  the  forts  and  forces 
there  maintained,  while  our  enemies  were  lied 
some  hundreds  of  miles  into  the  country,  nearly  as 
far  as  Albany.  And  now  strong  suspicions  be 
gan  to  arise  of  the  Narraganset  Indians,  that  they 
were  ill  affected,  and  designed  mischief;  and  so 
the  event  soon  discovered.  The  next  winter  they 
began  their  hostilities  upon  the  English.  Th'> 
united  colonies  then  agreed  to  send  an  army  to 
suppress  them.  Gov.  Winslow  was  appointed  to 
command  the  army.  He,  undertaking  the  expedi 
tion,  invited  Mr.  Church  to  command  a  company 

*  The  main  land  against  the  easterly  end  of  Rhode-Island, 
now  Tiverton,  \vas  called  Pocasset.- — HUBBARD, 


40  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

in  the  expedition,  which  he  declined,  asking  ex 
cuse  from  taking  commission,  he  promised  to  wait 
upon  him  as  a  Reformado  through  the  expedition. 
Having  rode  with  the  General  to  Boston,  and 
from  thence  to  Rehoboth,  upon  the  General's 
request  he  went  thence  the  nearest  way  over  the 
ferries,  with  Major  Smith,  to  his  garrison  in  the 
Narraganset  country,  to  prepare  and  provide  for 
the  coming  of  Gen.  Winslow;  who  marched  round 
through  the  country  with  his  army,  proposing  by 
night  to  surprise  Pumham,*  a  certain  Narragan 
set  Sachem,  and  his  town;  but  being  aware  of  the 
approach  of  our  army,  they  made  their  escape  into 
the  desarts;  but  Mr.  Church  meeting  with  fair 
winds  arrived  safe  at  the  Major's  garrison  in  the 
evening,  and  soon  began  to  inquire  after  the  ene 
my's  resorts,  wigwams,  or  sleeping  places;  and 
having  gained  some  intelligence,  he  proposed  to 
the  Eldridges,  and  some  other  brisk  hands  that  he 
met  with,  to  attempt  the  surprising  of  some  of  the 
enemy,  to  make  a  present  of  to  the  General,  when 
he  should  arrive,  which  might  advantage  his  de 
sign.  Being  brisk  blades,  they  readily  complied 
with  the  motion,  and  were  soon  upon  their  march. 
The  night  was  very  cold,  but  blessed  with  the 
moon.  Before  the  day  broke  they  effected  their  ex 
ploit,  and  by  the  rising  of  the  sun  arrived  at  the 
Major's  garrison,  where  they  met  the  General, 
and  presented  him  with  eighteen  of  the  enemy 
which  they  had  captured.  The  General,  pleased 
with  the  exploit,  gave  them  thanks,  particularly 
to  Mr.  Church,  the  mover  and  chief  actor  of  the 
business;  and  sending  two  of  them,  likely  boys,  a 

*  Sacliem  of  Shawomet,  or  Warwick. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  41 

present  to  Boston;  smiling  on  Mr.  Church,  told 
him,  "  That  he  made  no  doubt  but  his  faculty 
would  supply  them  with  Indian  boys  enough  be 
fore  the  war  was  ended." 

Their  next  move  was  to  a  swamp,  which  the 
Indians  had  fortified  with  a  fort.  Mr.  Church/' 
rode  in  the  General's  guard  when  the  bloody 
engagement  began;  but  being  impatient  of  being 
out  of  the  heat  of  the  action,  importunately  beg 
ged  leave  of  the  General  that  he  might  run  down 
to  the  assistance  of  his  friends.  The  Genera! 
yielded  to  his  request,  provided  he  could  ra% 
some  hands  to  go  with  him.  Thirty  men  imme 
diately  drew  out  and  followed  him.  They  enter 
ed  the  swamp,  and  passed  over  the  log,  which  was 
the  passage  into  the  fort,  where  they  saw  in  any 
men  and  several  valiant  captainsf  lie  slain.  Mr 
Church  espying  Capt.  Gardiner,  of  Salem,  amidst 
the  wigwams  in  the  east  end  of  the  fort,  made  to 
wards  him;  but  on  a  sudden,  while  they  were 
looking  each  other  in  the  face,  Captain  Gardiner 
settled  down.  Mr.  Church  stepped  to  him,  and 
seeing  the  blood  run  down  his  cheek,  lifted  up  his 
cap  and  called  him  by  his  name.  He  looked  up 
in  his  face,  but  spoke  not  a  word,  being  mortally 
shot  through  the  head;  and  observing  his  wound, 
Mr.  Church  found  the  ball  entered  his  head  on 
the  side  that  was  next  the  upland,  where  the 
English  entered  the  swamp;  upon  which,  having 
ordered  some  care  to  be  taken  of  the  Captain,  he 

*  Notwithstanding  Mr,  Church  so  distinguished  himself 
in  this  great  batt  ,  hi.s  -name  is  riot  mentioned  in  our  most 
authentic  histories  of  these  times. 

I  Captains  Johr.^on  and  Davenport  of  Massachusetts^ 
who  led  the  van,  and  many  more. 


43  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

despatched  information  to  the  General,  that  the 
best  and  most  forward  of  his  army,  that  hazarded 
iheir  lives  to  enter  the  fort,  upon  the  muzzle  of 
the  enemys'  guns,  were  shot  in  their  backs,  and 
killed  by  them  that  lay  behind.  Mr.  Church, 
with  his  small  company,  hastened  out  of  the  fort 
that  the  English  were  now  possessed  of,  to  get  a 
shot  at  the  Indians  that  were  in  the  swamp,  -and 
"kept  firing  upon  them.  He  soon  met  with  a 
broad  and  bloody  track,  where  the  enemy  had  fled 
with  their  wounded  men.  Following  hard  in  the 
track,  he  soon  discovered  one  of  the  enemy,  who, 
clapping  his  gun  across  his  breast,  made  towards 
Mr.  Church,  and  beckoned  to  him  with  his  hand. 
Mr.  Church  immediately  commanded  no  man  to 
hurt  him,  hoping  by  him  to  have  gained  some  in 
telligence  of  the  enemy  which  might  be  of  advan 
tage;  but  it  unhappily  fell  out  that  a  fellow  who 
had  lagged  behind  coming  up,  shot  the  Indian,  to 
Mr.  Church's  great  grief  and  disappointment. 
Immediately  they  heard  a  great  shout  of  the 
enemy,  which  seemed  to  be  behind  them,  or  be 
tween  them  and  the  fort,  and  discovered  them 
running  from  tree  to  tree  to  gain  advantages  of 
firing  upon  the  English  that  were  in  the  fort.  Mr. 
Church's  great  difficulty  now  was  how  to  discover 
liimself  to  his  friends  in  the  fort,  using  several  in 
ventions,  till  at  length  he  gained  an  opportunity  to 
call  to,  and  informed  a  Sergeant  in  the  fort,  that 
he  was  there,  and  might  be  exposed  to  their 
shots,  unless  they  observed  it.  By  this  time  he 
discovered  a  number  of  the  enemy  almost  within 
shot  of  him,  making  towards  the  fort.  Mr. 
Church  and  his  company  were  favoured  by  a  heap 
of  brush  that  was  between  them  and  the  enemy, 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  43 

and  prevented  their  being  discovered  by  them. 
Mr.  Church  had  given  his  men  their  particular 
orders  for  firing  upon  the  enemy;  and  as  they 
were  rising  up  to  make  their  shot  the  afore-men 
tioned  sergeant  called  out  to  them,  for  God's 
sake  not  to  fire,  for  he  believed  they  were  some 
of  their  friendly  Indians.  They  clapped  down 
again,  but  were  soon  sensible  of  the  sergeant's 
mistake.  The  enemy  got  to  the  top  of  the  tree, 
the  body  whereof  the  sergeant  stood  upon,  and 
there  clapped  down  out  of  sight  of  the  fort,  but 
all  this  while  never  discovered  Mr.  Church,  who 
observed  them  to  keep  gathering  unto  that  place, 
until  there  seemed  to  be  a  formidable  black  heap 
of  them.  "  Now,  brave  boys,"  said  Mr.  Church 
to  his  men,  "  if  we  mind  our  hits  we  may  have  a 
brave  shot,  and  let  our  sign  for  firing  on  them  be 
their  rising  to  fire  into  the  fort."  It  was  not 
long  before  the  Indians  rising  up  as  one  body,  de 
signing  to  pour  a  volley  into  the  fort,  when  our 
Church  nimbly  started  up  and  gave  them  such  a 
round  volley,  and  unexpected  clap  on  their  backs, 
that  they,  who  escaped  with  their  lives,  were  so 
surprised  that  they  scampered,  they  knew  not 
whither  themselves.  About  a  dozen  of  them  ran 
over  the  log  into  the  fort,  and  took  into  a  sort  of 
hovel  that  was  built  with  poles,  after  the  manner 
of  a  corn  crib.  Mr.  Church's  men  having  their 
cartridges  fixed  were  soon  ready  to  obey  his  or 
der,  which  was  immediately  to  charge  and  run 
upon  the  hovel  and  overset  it,  calling,  as  he  ran, 
to  some  that  were  in  the  fort,  to  assist  him  in 
oversetting  it.  They  no  sooner  came  to  face  the 
enemj's  shelter,  than  Mr.  Church  discovered  that 
one  of  them  had  found  a  hole  to  point  his  gun 


44  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

through,  directly  at  him;  but  he  encouraged  his 
company,  and  ran  on  till  he  was  struck  with  three 
bullets,  one  in  his  thigh,  which  was  near  half  cut 
off  as  it  glanced  on  the  joint  of  his  hip  bone;  an 
other  through  the  gathering  of  his  breeches  and 
drawers,  with  a  small  flesh  wound;  a  third  pierced 
his  pocket  and  wounded  a  pair  of  mittens  that  lie 
had  borrowed  of  Capt.  Prentice,  being  wrapped 
together  had  the  misfortune  of  having  many  holes 
cut  through  them  with  one  bullet;  but,  however, 
he  made  a  shift  to  keep  on  his  legs,  and  nimbly 
discharged  his  gun  at  them  that  had  wounded  him. 
Being  disabled  now  to  go  a  step,  his  men  would 
have  carried  him  off,  but  he  forbid  their  touching 
him,  until  they  had  perfected  their  project  of 
oversetting  the  enemy's  shelter;  bid  them  run, 
for  now  the  Indians  had  no  guns  charged.  While 
he  was  urging  them  to  run  on,  the  Indians  began 
to  shoot  arrows,  one  of  which  pierced  through  the 
arm  of  an  Englishman  that  had  hold  of  the  arm  of 
Mr.  Church  to  support  him. 

The  English,  in  short,  were  discouraged,  and 
drew  back;  and  by  this  time  the  English  people 
in  the  fort  had  began  to  set  fire  to  the  wigwams 
and  houses  in  the  fort,  which  Mr.  Church  labour 
ed  hard  to  prevent;  they  told  him,  they  had  orders 
from  the  General  to  burn  them;  he  begged  them 
to  forbear  until  he  had  discoursed  the  General; 
and  hastening  to  him,  he  begged  to  spare  the  wig 
wams,  &c.  in  the  fort  from  lire 5  told  him,  the 
wigwams  were  musket-proof,  being  ajl  lined  with 
baskets  and  tubs  of  grain,  and  other  provisions, 
sufficient  to  supply  the  whole  army,  until  the  spring 
of  the  year;  and  every  wounded  man  might  have 
a  good  warm  house  to  lodge  in,  who  otherwuys 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  45 

would  necessarily  perish  with  the  storms  and  cold; 
and  moreover,  that  the  army  had  no  other  provis 
ion  to  trust  to,  or  depend  upon;  that  he  knew  that 
the  Plymouth  forces  had  not  so  much  as  one  bis- 
cuite  left,  for  he  had  seen  their  last  dealt  out," 
&c.  The  General  advising  a  few  words  with  the 
gentlemen  that  were  about  him,  moved  towards 
the  fort,  designing  to  ride  in  himself,  and  bring  in 
the  whole  army;  but  just  as  he  was  entering  the 
swamp,  one  of  his  Captains  met  him,  and  asked 
him,  whither  he  was  going?  He  told  him  into  the 
fort.  The  Captain  laid  hold  of  his  horse,  and  told 
him,  "  His  life  was  worth  an  hundred  of  theirs, 
and  he  should  not  expose  himself."  The  Gene 
ral  told  him,  "  That  he  supposed  the  brunt  was 
over,  and  that  Mr.  Church  had  informed  him 
that  the  fort  was  taken,  &LC.  and  as  the  case  was 
circumstanced  he  was  of  the  mind,  that  it  was 
most  practicable  for  him,  and  his  army  to  shelter 
themselves  in  the  fort."  The  Captain  in  a  great 
heat  replied,  that  Church  lied ;  and  told  the 
General,  that  if  he  moved  another  step  towards 
the  fort  he  would  shoot  his  horse  under  him.. 
Then  brusled  up  another  gentleman,  a  certain 
docter,  .and  opposed  Mr.  Church's  advice,  and 
said,  "  If  it  were  complied  with,  it  would  kill  more 
men  than  the  enemy  had  killed;  for,  said  he,  by 
to-morrow  the  wounded  men  will  be  so  stiff  that 
there  will  be  no  moving  of  them;  and  looking  upon 
Mr.  Church,  and  seeing  the  blood  flow  apace  from 
his  wounds,  told  him,  that  if  he  gave  such  advice 
as  that  was,  he  should  bleed  to  death  like  a  dog 
before  he  would  endeavour  to  stanch  his  blood; 
though  after  they  had  prevailed  against  his  advic\^, 
they  were  sufficiently  kind  to  him.  And  burning 


46  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

up  all  the  houses  and  provisions  in  the  fort,  the 
army  returned  the  same  night  in  the  storm  and 
cold.  And  I  suppose  that  every  one  who  was  ac 
quainted  with  that  night's  march,  deeply  laments 
the  miseries  that  attended  them,  especially  the 
wounded  and  dying  men.  But  it  mercifully  came 
to  pass,  that  Capt.  Andrew  Belcher,  arrived  at 
Mr.  Smith's  that  very  night  from  Boston,  with  a 
vessel  laden  with  provisions  for  the  army,  who 
must  otherwise  have  perished  for  want.  Some  of 
the  enemy  that  were  then  in  the  fort  have  since 
informed  us,  that  near  a  third  of  the  Indians  be 
longing  to  all  the  Narraganset  country  were  kill 
ed  by  the  English,  and  by  the  cold  of  that  night; 
that  they  fled  out  of  their  fort  so  hastily,  that  they 
carried  nothing  with  them;  and  that  if  the  English 
had  kept  in  the  fort,  the  Indians  would  certainly 
have  been  necessitated,  either  to  surrender  them 
selves  to  them,  or  to  have  perished  by  hunger,  and 
the  severity  of  the  season.*  Some  time  after  this 
fort  fight,  a  certain  Sogkonate  Indian,  on  hearing 
Mr.  Church  relate  the  manner  of  his  being  wound 
ed,  told  him,  that  he  did  not  know  but  he  himself 
was  the  Indian  that  wounded  him,  for  that  he  was 

*  The  swamp  fight  happened  on  December  29,  1675,  in 
which  about  50  English  were  killed  in  the  action,  and  died 
of  their  wounds;  and  about  300  or  350  Indians,  men,  women 
and  children,  were  killed,  and  as  many  more  captivated.  It 
is  said  500  wigwams  were  burnt  with  the  fort;  and  200 
more  in  other  parts  of  Narraganset.  The  place  of  the 
fort  was  an  elevated  ground  or  piece  of  upland,  of  perhaps 
three  or  four  acres,  in  the  middle  of  a  hideous  swamp;  about 
seven  miles  near  due  west  from  Narraganset  south  ferry. 

There  is  a  mistake  in  the  date  of  the  swamp  fight,  either 
committed  by  Church,  or  a  typographical  mistake.  It 
happened  the  19th  of  December,  1GT5. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  47 

of  that  company  of  Indians  that  Mr.  Church 
made  a  shot  upon,  when  they  were  rising  to  make 
a  shot  into  the  fort;  that  they  were  in  number 
about  sixty  or  seventy,  that  had  just  then  came 
down  from  Punham's  town,  and  never  before  then 
fired  a  gun  against  the  English;  that  when  Mr. 
Church  fired  upon  them  he  killed  fourteen  dead 
upon  the  spot,  and  wounded  a  greater  number  than 
he  killed,  many  of  which  died  afterwards  of  their 
wounds,  in  the  cold  and  storm  the  following  night. 

Mr.  Church  was  moved,  with  other  wounded 
men,  over  to  Rhode-Island,  where,  in  about  three 
months  time,  he  was  in  some  good  measure  re 
covered  of  his  wounds,  and  the  fever  that  attend 
ed  them;  and  then  went  over  to  the  General  to 
take  his  leave  of  him,  with  a  design  to  return  home. 

But  the  General's  great  importunity  again  per 
suaded  him  to  accompany  him  in  a  long  march  into 
the  Nipmuck*  country,  though  he  had  then  tents 
in  his  wounds,  and  so  lame  as  not  able  to  mount 
his  horse  without  two  men's  assistance. 

In  this  march  the  first  thing  remarkable  was, 
that  they  came  to  an  Indian  town  where  there 
were  many  wigwams  in  sight,  but  an  icy  swamp, 
lying  between  them  and  the  wigwams,  prevent 
ed  their  running  at  once  upon  it  as  they  intend 
ed.  There  was  much  firing  upon  each  side  be 
fore  they  passed  the  swamp.  But  at  length  the 
enemy  all  fled,  and  a  certain  Mohegaa,  that  was 
a  friendly  Indian,  pursued  and  seized  one  of  the 
enemy  that  had  a  small  wound  in  his  leg,  and 
brought  him  before  the  General,  where  he  was 

*  Country  about  Worcester,  Oxford,  Grafton,  Dudley* 
&-c.  See  Appendix. 


48  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

examined.  Some  were  for  torturing  him  to  bring 
him  to  a  more  ample  confession  of  what  he  knew 
eoncerning  his  countrymen.  Mr.  Church,  verily 
believing  he  had  been  frank  in  his  confession,  in 
terceded  and  prevailed  for  his  escaping  torture. 
But  the  army  being  bound  forward  in  their  march, 
and  the  Indian's  wound  somewhat  disenabling  him 
for  travelling,  it  was  concluded  he  should  be  knock 
ed  on  the  head:  accordingly  he  was  brought  be^ 
fore  a  great  fire,  and  the  Mohegan  that  took  him 
was  allowed,  as  he  desired,  to  be  his  executioner. 
Mr.  Church  taking  no  delight"  in  the  sport,  fram 
ed  an  errand  at  some  distance  among  the  baggage 
horses,  and  when  he  had  got  ten  rods  or  there 
abouts,  from  the  fire,  the  executioner  fetching  a 
blow  with  a  hatchet  at  the  head  of  the  prisoner, 
he  being  aware  of  the  blow,  dodged  his  head  aside 
and  the  executioner  missing  his  stroke,  the  hatch 
et  flew  out  of  his  hand,  and  had  like  to  have 
dane  execution  where  it  was  not  designed.  The 
prisoner,  upon  his  narrow  escape,  broke  from  them 
that  held  him,  and  notwithstanding  his  wound, 
made  use  of  his  legs  and  happened  to  run  directly 
upon  Mr.  Church,  who  laid  hold  on  him,  and  a 
close  skuffle  they  had,  but  the  Indian  having  no 
clothes  on  slipped  from  him  and  ran  again,  and 
Mr.  Church  pursued  him;  although  being  lame 
there  was  no  great  odds  in  the  race,  until  the  In 
dian  stumbled  and  fell,  and  they  closed  again, 
skuffled  and  fought  pretty  smartly,  until  the  In* 
dian,  by  the  advantage  of  his  nakedness,  slipped 
from  his  hold  again  and  set  out  on  his  third  race 
with  Mr.  Church  close  at  his  heels  endeavouring 
to  lay  hold  on  the  hair  of  his  head,  which  was  all 
the  hold  that  could  be  taken  of  him;  and  running 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  If) 

through  a  swamp  that  was  covered  with  hollow 
ice,  it  made  so  loud  a  noise  that  Mr.  Church  ox- 
pected,  but  in  vain,  that  some  of  his  English 
friends  would  follow  the  noise  and  come  to  his  as 
sistance.  But  the  Indian  happened  to  run  athwart 
a  large  tree  that  lay  fallen  near  breast  high,  where 
he  stopped  and  cryed  out  aloud  for  help;  but  Mr. 
Church  being  soon  upon  him  again,  the  Indian 
seized  him  fast  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  en 
deavoured  by  twisting  to  break  his  neck;  but 
though  Mr.  Church's  wounds  had  somewhat  weak- 
ed  him,  and  the  Indian  a  stout  fellow,  yet  he  held 
him  in  play  and  twisted  the  Indian's  neck  as  well, 
and  took  the  advantage  of  many  opportunities  while 
they  hung  by  each  others  hair,  gave  him  notorious 
bunts  in  the  face  with  his  head.  But  in  the  heat 
of  this  skuffle  they  heard  the  ice  break  with  some 
body's  coming  apace  to  them,  which  when  they 
heard,  Church  concluded  there  was  help  for  one 
or  the  other  of  them,  but  was  doubtful  which  of 
them  must  naw  receive  the  fatal  stroke  ;  anon 
somebody  comes  up  to  them,  who  proved  to  bo  the 
Indian  that  had  first  taken  the  prisoner.  With 
out  speaking  a  word,  he  felt  them  out,  for  it  was 
so  dark  he  could  not  distinguish  them  by  sight; 
the  one  being  clothed  and  the  other  naked,  he 
felt  where  Mr.  Church's  hands  were  fastened  in 
the  Netop's  hair,  and  with  one  blow  settled  his 
hatchet  in  between  them,  and  ended  the  strife. 
He  then  spoke  to  Mr.  Church,  and  hugged  him 
in  his  arms,  and  thanked  him  abundantly  for 
catching  his  prisoner;  and  cut  off  the  head  of  hi? 
victim  and  carried  it  to  the  camp;  and  giving  an 
account  to  the  rest  of  the  friendly  Indians  in  the 
5 


50  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

camp,  how  Mr.  Church  had  seized  his  prisoner, 
&c.  they  all  joined  in  a  mighty  shout. 

Proceeding  in  this  march,  they  had  the  success 
of  killing  many  of  the  enemy;  until  at  length  their 
provisions  failing,  they  returned  home. 

King  Philip,  as  was  before  hinted,  was  fled  to 
a  place  called  Scattacook,  between  York  and  Al 
bany,  where  the  Moohags*  made  a  descent  upon 
him  and  killed  many  of  his  men,  which  moved  him 
from  thence. 

His  next  kennelling  place  was  at  the  falls  of 
Connecticut  river,f  where,  sometime  after,  Capt 
Turner  found  him,  came  upon  him  by  night,  killed 
a  great  many  of  his  men,  and  frightened  many 
more  into  the  river,  that  were  hurled  down  the 
falls  and  drowned. 

Philip  got  over  the  river,  and  on  the  back  side 
of  Wetuset  hills  meets  with  all  the  remnants  of 
the  INarraganset  and  NipmuckJ  Indians,  that  were 
there  gathered  together,  and  became  very  nume 
rous,  and  made  their  descent  on  Sudbury  and  the 
adjacent  parts  of  the  country,  where  they  met  with 
and  swallowed  up  valiant  CaptWadsworth§  and 
his  company,  and  many  other  doleful  desolations  in 
those  parts.  The  news  whereof  coming  to  Ply 
mouth,  and  they  expecting  probably  the  enemy 
would  soon  return  again  into  their  colony,  the 
council  of  war  were  called  together,  and  Mr. 

*  Mohawks.  This  name  according  to  Roger  Williams, 
is  derived  from  the  word  nioho,  which  signifies  to  eat;  Or, 
Mohawks  signified  man-eaters,  or  Cannibals,  among  the 
other  trihes  of  Indians. 

|  Above  Deerfield.  J  About  Rutland. 

§  Captain  Wadsworth,  with  about  fifty  men,  in  their 
inarch  to  relieve  Sudbury,  missed  their  way,  and  were  all 
ant  off  to  a  man,  by  faliiug  into  an  ambuscade. — HUTCH, 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  51 

Church  was  sent  for  to  them,  being  observed  by 
the  whole  colony  to  be  a  person  extraordinarily 
qualified  for,  and  adapted  to,  the  affairs  of  war. 
It  was  proposed  in  council,  that  lest  the  enemy, 
in  their  return,  should  fall  on  Rehoboth,  or  some 
other  of  their  out-towns,  a  company,  consisting  of 
sixty  or  seventy  men,  should  be  sent  into  those 
parts;  and  Mr.  Church  invited  to  take  the  com 
mand  of  them.  He  told  them,  that  if  the  enemy 
returned  into  that  colony  again,  they  might  rea 
sonably  expect  that  they  would  come  very  nume 
rous,  and  if  he  should  take  the  command  of  men, 
he  should  not  lie  in  any  town  or  garrison  with 
them,  but  would  lie  in  the  woods  as  the  enemy 
did;  and  that  to  send  out  such  small  companies 
against  such  multitudes  of  the  enemy,  which  were 
now  mustered  together,  would  be  but  to  deliver 
so  many  men  into  their  hands  to  be  destroyed,  as 
the  worthy  Capt.  Wads  worth  and  his  company 
were.  His  advice  upon  the  whole  was,  that  if 
they  sent  out  any  forces,  to  send  no  less  than  300 
soldiers;  and  that  the  other  colonies  shotild  be 
asked  to  send  out  their  quotas  also;  adding,  that 
if  they  intended  to  make  an  end  of  the  war,  by 
subduing  the  enemy,  they  must  make  a  business 
of  the  war,  as  the  enemy  did;  and  that  for  his 
own  part,  he  had  wholly  laid  aside  all  his  own 
private  business  and  concerns,  ever  since  the  war 
broke  out.  He  told  them,  that  if  they  would 
send  forth  such  forces  as  he  should  direct,  he 
would  go  with  them  for  six  weeks  march,  which 
was  long  enough  for  men  to  be  kept  in  the  woods 
at  once;  and  if  they  might  be  sure  of  liberty  to 
return  in  such  a  space,  men  would  go  out  cheer 
fully;  and  he  would  engage  that  150  of  the  best 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

soldiers  should  immediately  enlist  voluntarily  to 
go  with  him,  if  they  would  please  to  add  fifty 
more;  and  one  hundred  of  the  friendly  Indians; 
and  with  such  an  army,  he  made  no  doubt,  that 
he  might  do  much  service;  but  on  other  terms  he 
did  not  incline  to  be  concerned. 

Their  reply  was,  that  they  were  already  in 
debt,  and  so  big  an  army  would  bring  such 
charges  upon  them,  as  they  would  never  be  able 
to  pay  ;  and  as  for  sending  out  Indians,  they 
thought  it  no  ways  advisable,  and  in  short  none  of 
his  advice  practicable. 

Now  Mr.  Church's  consort,  and  his  then  only 
son,  were  till  this  time  remaining  at  Duxbury,  and 
his  fearing  their  safety  there,  unless  the  war 
were  more  vigorously  engaged  in,  resolved  to  move 
to  lihoile-Island,  though  it  was  much  opposed 
both  by  government  and  relations.  But  at  length, 
the  governor  considering  that  he  might  be  no  less 
serviceable  by  being  on  that  side  of  the  colony, 
gave  his  permit,  and  wished  he  had  twenty  more 
as  good  men  to  send  with  him. 

Then  preparing  for  his  removal,  he  went  with 
his  small  family  to  Plymouth,  to  take  leave  of 
their  friends,  where  they  met  with  his  wife's  pa 
rents,  who  much  persuaded  that  she  might  be  left 
at  Mr.  Clark's  garrison,  which  they  supposed 
to  be  a  mighty  safe  place,  or  at  least  that  she 
might  be  there  until  her  soon  expected  lyingrin 
was  over,  being  near  her  time.  Mr.  Church 
no  ways  inclining  to  venture  her  any  longer  in 
those  parts,  and  no  arguments  prevailing  with 
him,  he  resolutely  set  out  for  Taunton,  and  many 
of  their  friends  accompanied  them.  There  they 
found  Captain  Pierce,  with  a  commanded  party, 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  53 

who  offered  Mr.  Church  to  send  a  relation  of  his 
with  some  others  to  guard  him  to  Rhode-Island. 
Mr.  Church  thanked  him  for  his  respectful  oifer, 
but  for  some  good  reasons  refused  to  accept  it, 
In  short  they  got  safe  to  Capt.  John  Almy's 
house  upon  Rhode-Island,  where  they  met  with 
friends  and  good  entertainment.  But,  by  the  way, 
let  me  not  forget  this  remarkable  providence,  viz. 
that  within  twenty-four  hours,  or  thereabouts, 
after  their  arrival  at  Rhode- Island,  Mr.  Clark's 
garrison,  that  Mr.  Ch-urch  was  so  much  impor 
tuned  to  leave  his  wife  and  children  at,  was  de 
stroyed  by  the  enemy. 

Mr.  Church  being  at  present  disabled  from  any 
particular  service  in  the  war,  began  to  think  of 
pome  other  employ;  but  he  no  sooner  took  a  tool 
to  cut  a  small  stick,  but  he  cut  off  the  top  of  his 
fore  finger,  and  the  next  to  it  half  off;  upon  which 
he  smilingly  said,  that  he  thought  he  was  out  of 
his  wray  to  leave  the  war,  and  resolved  he  would 
go  to  the  war  again.  Accordingly,  his  second  son 
being  born  on  the  twelfth  of  May,  and  his  wife 
and  son  likely  to  do  well,  Mr.  Church  embraces 
the  opportunity  of  a  passage  in  a  sloop  bound  to 
Barnstable, which  landed  him  at  Sogkonesset,  from 
whence  he  rode  to  Plymouth;  arriving  there  on 
the  first  Tuesday  in  June.  The  general  court 
then  sitting  welcomed  him,  and  told  him  they 
were  glad  to  see  him  alive.  He  replied,  he  was 
as  glad  to  see  them  alive,  for  he  had  seen  so  many 
fires  and  smokes  towards  their  side  of  the  country 
since  he  left  them,  that  he  could  scarce  eat  or 
sleep  with  any  comfort,  for  fear  they  had  all  been 
destroyed.  For  all  travelling  was  stopped,  and 
no  news  had  passed  for  a  long  time  together.  He 


54  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR 

gave  them  an  account,  that  the  Indians  had  made 
horrid  desolations  at  Providence,  Warwick,  Paw- 
tuxet,  and  all  over  the  Narraganset  country;  and 
.that  they  prevailed  daily  against  the  English  on  that 
side  of  tlie  country;  told  them  he  longed  to  hear  what 
methods  they  designed  in  the  war.  They  told  him 
they  were  particularly  glad  that  Providence  had 
brought  him  there  at  that  juncture;  for  they  had 
concluded  the  very  next  day  to  send  out  an  army 
of  200  men,  two  thirds  English *  and  one  third 
Indians.  This  was  in  some  measure  agreeahle  to 
his  former  proposal.  And  they  expected  Boston 
and  Connecticut  to  join  with  their  quotas.  In 
short,  it  was  so  concluded;  and  that  Mr.  Church 
should  return  to  the  island,  and  see  what  he  could 
muster  there  of  those  who  had  moved  from  Swan- 
zey,  Dartmouth,  &,c.  So  he  returned  the  same 
way  he  came.  When  he  came  to  Sogkonesset, 
he  had  a  sham  put  upon  him,  about  a  boat  he  had 
bought  to  go  home  in,  and  was  forced  to  hire  two 
of  the  friendly  Indians  to  paddle  him  in  a  canoe 
from  Elizabeth's  to  Rhode-Island. 

It  fell  out,  that  as  they  were  in  their  voyage 
passing  by  Sogkonate-point,  some  of  the  enemy 
were  upon  the  rocks  a  fishing.  He  bid  the  In 
dians  that  managed  the  canoe  to  paddle  so  near 
the  rocks  as  that  he  might  call  to  those  Indians; 
told  tnem  that  he  had  a  great  mind  ever  since  the 
war  broke  out  to  speak  with  some  of  the  Sogko- 
nate  Indians,  and  that  they  were  their  relations, 
and  therefore  they  need  not  fear  their  hurting  of 
them.  And  he  added,  that  he  had  a  mighty  con 
ceit,  that  if  he  could  get  a  fair  opportunity  to  dis-y 
course  with  them,  that  he  could  draw  them  off 
from  t  Philip  ;  for  he  knew  they  never  heartily 


KING    PHILIP'S    WAR.  55 

loved  him.  The  enemy  hallooed  and  made  signs 
for  the  canoe  to  come  to  them;  but  when  they 
approached  them  they  skulked  and  hid  in  the 
clifts  of  the  rocks.  Then  Mr.  Church  ordered 
the  canoe  to  be  paddled  off  again,  lest  if  he  came 
too  near  they  should  fire  upon  him.  Then  the 
Indians  appearing  again,  beckoned  and  called  in 
the  Indian  language,  and  bid  them  come  ashore, 
for  they  wanted  to  speak  with  him.  The  Indians 
in  the  canoe  answered  them  again;  but  they  on 
the  rocks  told  them,  that  the  surf  made  such  a 
noise  against  the  rocks,  they  could  not  hear  any 
thing  they  said.  Then  Mr.  Church,  by  signs 
with  his  hands,  gave  to  understand,  that  he  would 
have  two  of  them  go  down  upon  the  point  of  the 
beach,  a  place  where  a  man  might  see  who  was 
near  him;  accordingly,  two  of  them  ran  along  the 
beach,  and  met  him  there  without  their  arms,  ex 
cepting  one  of  them  that  had  a  lance  in  his  hand. 
They  urged  Mr.  Church  to  come  ashore,  for  they 
had  a  great  desire  to  have  some  discourse  with 
him.  He  told  them,  if  he  that  had  his  weapon 
in  his  hand,  would  carry  it  up  some  distance  upon 
the  beach,  and  leave  it,  he  would  come  ashore 
and  discourse  with  them.  He  did  so,  and  Mr. 
Church  went  ashore,  hauled  up  his  canoe,  ordered 
one  of  his  Indians  to  stay  by  it,  and  the  other  to 
walk  above  on  the  beach,  as  a  sentinel,  to  see 
that  the  coasts  were  clear;  and  when  Mr.  Church 
came  up  to  the  Indians,  one  of  them  happened  to 
be  honest  George,  one  of  the  two  that  Awash- 
onks  formerly  sent  to  call  him  to  her  dance,  and 
was  so  careful  to  guard  him  back  to  his  house 
again,  and  the  last  Sogkonate  Indian  that  he 
spoke  with  before  the  war  broke  out.  He  spoke 


56  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

English  very  well.  Mr.  Church  asked  him  where 
Awashonks  was?  He  told  him  in  a  swamp,  about 
three  miles  off.  Mr.  Church  asked  him  what  he 
wanted,  that  he  hallooed  and  called  him  ashore? 
He  answered,  that  he  took  him  for  Church  as 
soon  as  he  heard  his  voice  in  the  canoe,  and  that 
he  was  very  glad  to  see  him  alive;  and  he  believ 
ed  his  mistress  would  be  as  glad  to  see  him  and 
speak  with  him.  He  told  him  further,  that  he 
believed  she  was  not  fond  of  maintaining  a  war 
with  the  English;  and  that  she  had  left  Philip, 
and  did  not  intend  to  return  to  him  any  more. 
He  was  mighty  earnest  for  Mr.  Church  to  tarry 
there,  while  he  would  run  and  call  her;  but  he 
told  him  no,  for  he  did  not  know  but  the  Indians 
would  come  down  and  kill  him  before  he  could 
get  back  again.  He  said,  if  Mount-Hope  or 
Pocasset  Indians  could  catch  him,  he  believed 
they  would  knock  him  on  the  head,  but  all  Sog- 
konate  Indians  knew  him  very  well,  and  he  be 
lieved  none  of  them  would  hurt  him.  In  short 
Mr.  Church  refused  then  to  tarry,  but  promised 
that  he  would  come  over  again,  and  speak  with 
Awashonks,  and  some  other  Indians  that  he  had 
a  mind  to  talk  with. 

Accordingly  he  appointed  him  to  notify  Awa 
shonks,  her  son  Peter,  their  chief  Captain,  and 
one  Nompash,  an  Indian  that  Mr.  Church  had 
formerly  a  particular  respect  for,  to  meet  him  two 
days  after,  at  a  rock  at  the  lower  end  of  Capt. 
Richmond's  farm,  which  was  a  very  rioted  place; 
and  if  that  day  should  prove  stormy,  or  windy, 
they  were  to  expect  him  the  next  moderate  day. 
Mr.  Church  told  George,  that  he  would  have 
him  come  with  the  persons  mentioned,  and  no 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  57 

more.  They  giving  each  other  their  hand  upon 
it,  parted,  and  Mr.  Church  went  home;  and  the 
next  morning  to  Newport,  and  informed  the  gov 
ernment  of  what  had  passed  between  him  and  the 
Sogkonate  Indians,  and  desired  their  permit  for 
him,  arid  Daniel  Wilcox,  a  man  who  well  under 
stood  the  Indian  language,  to  go  over  to  them. 
They  told  him  that  they  thought  he  was  mad,  af 
ter  such  service  as  he  had  done,  and  such  dangers 
as  he  had  escaped,  now  to  throw  away  his  life; 
for  the  rogues  would  as  certainly  kill  him  as  he 
went  over;  and  utterly  refused  to  grant  his  permit, 
or  to  be  willing  that  he  should  run  the  risk. 

Mr.  Church  told  them,  "  That  it  had  ever  been 
in  his  thoughts  since  the  war  broke  out,  that  if  he 
could  discourse  with  the  Sogkonate  Indians,  he 
could  draw  them  off  from  Philip  and  employ  them 
against  him;  but  could  not,  till  now,  ever  have  an 
opportunity  to  speak  with  any  of  them,  and  was 
very  loath  to  loose  it,"  &c.  At  length  they  told 
him  if  he  would  go  it  should  be  only  with  the  two 
Indians  that  came  with  him;  but  they  would  give 
him  no  permit  under  their  hands.  He  took  his 
leave  of  them,  resolving  to  prosecute  his  design. 
They  told  him  they  were  sorry  to  see  him  so  res 
olute;  for  if  he  went  they  never  expected  to  sere 
his  face  again. 

•He  bought  a  bottle  of  rum  and  a  small  roll  of 
tobacco,  to  carry  with  him,  and  returned  to  his 
family.  The  next  day,  being  the  day  appointed 
for  the  meeting,  he  prepared  two  light  canoes  for 
the  design,  and  his  own  man,  with  the  two  In 
dians  for  his  company.  He  used  such  arguments 
with  his  tender  and  now  almost  broken  hearted 
wife,  from  the  experience  of  former  preservations 


58  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

and  the  prospect  of  the  great  service  he  might  do 
should  it  please  God  to  succeed  his  design,  &c. 
that  he  obtained  her  consent  to  his  attempt.  And 
committing  her,  the  babes  and  himself  to  Heaven's 
protection,  he  set  out.  They  had  from  the  shore 
about  a  league  to  paddle.  Drawing  near  the 
place  they  saw  the  Indians  setting  on  the  bank 
•waiting  for  their  coming.  Mr.  Church  sent  one 
of  his  Indians  ashore  in  one  of  the  canoes,  to  see 
whether  they  were  the  same  Indians  whom  he  had 
appointed  to  meet  him,  and  no  more;  and  if  so  to 
stay  ashore  and  send  George  to  fetch  him;  ac 
cordingly  George  came  and  fetched  Mr.  Church 
ashore,  while  the  other  canoe  played  off  to  see 
the  event,  and  to  carry  tidings  if  the  Indians 
should  prove  false. 

Mr.  Church  asked  George  whether  Awashonks 
and  the  other  Indians  he  appointed  to  meet  him, 
were  there?  He  answered,  They  were.  He  then 
asked  him  if  there  were  no  more  than  those 
whom  he  appointed  to  be  there?  To  which  he 
would  give  him  no  direct  answer.  However,  he 
went  ashore,  where  he  was  no  sooner  landed  but 
Awashonks,  and  the  rest  that  he  had  appointed  to 
meet  them  there,  rose  up  and  came  down  to  meet 
him;  and  each  of  them  successively  gave  him 
their  hands,  and  expressed  themselves  glad  to  see 
him,  and  gave  him  thanks  for  exposing  himself  to 
visit  them.  They  walked  together  about  a  gun 
shot  from  the  water,  to  a  convenient  place  to  sit 
down,  when  at  once  rose  up  a  great  body  of  In 
dians,  who  had  lain  hid  in  the  grass,  which  was  as 
high  as  a  man's  waist,  and  gathered  round  them, 
till  they  had  enclosed  them  in.  Being  fiH  armed 
with  guns,  spears,  hatchets,  &,c.  witU  their  hair 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  59 

brimmed  and  faces  painted  in  their  warlike  appear^ 
ance.  It  was  doubtless  somewhat  surprising  to 
our  gentleman  at  first,  but  without  any  visible  dis 
covery  of  it.  After  a  small  silent  pause  on  each 
side,  he  spoke  to  Awashonks,  and  told  her  that 
George  had  informed  him  that  she  had  a  desire  to 
see  him,  and  discourse  about  making  peace  with 
the  English.  She  answered,  Yes.  Then,  said  Mr. 
Church,  it  is  customary  when  people  meet  to  treat 
of  peace  to  lay  aside  their  arms,  and  not  appear 
in  such  a  hostile  form  as  your  people  do;  and  de 
sired  her  that  if  they  might  talk  about  peace, 
which  he  desired  they  might,  her  men  might  lay 
aside  their  arms  and  appear  more  tre-atable.  Up 
on  which  there  began  a  considerable  noise  and 
murmur  among  them,  in  their  own  language,  till 
Awashonks  asked  him  what  arms  they  should  lay 
down,  and  where?  He,  perceiving  the  Indians 
looked  very  surly  and  much  displeased,  replied, 
"Only  their  guns,  at  some  small  distance,  for  for 
mality's  sake.3'  Upon  which,  with  one  consent, 
they  laid  aside  their  guns,  and  came  and  sat  down. 
Mr.  Church  pulled  out  his  calabash,  and  asked 
Awashonks,  whether  she  had  lived  so  long  at  We- 
tuset  as  to  forget  to  drink  Occapeches;  and  then 
drinking  to  her,  he  perceived  that  she  watched 
him  very  diligently,  to  see,  as  he  thought,  whether 
he  swallowed  any  of  the  rum.  He  offered  her 
the  shell;  but  she  desired  him  to  drink  again  first. 
He  then  told  her  there  was  no  poison  in  it;  and 
pouring  some  into  the  palm  of  his  hand,  sipped  it 
up,  and  took  the  shell  and  drank  to  her  again, 
and  took  a  good  draught,  which  indeed  was  no 
more  than  he  needed.  Then,  they  all  standing 
up,  he  said  to  Awashouks,  "  You  won't  drink  for 


60  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR, 

fear  there  should  be  poison  in  it."  He  then 
handed  it  to  a  little  ill-looking  fellow,  who  catch- 
ed  it  readily  enough,  and  as  greedily  would  have 
swallowed  the  liquor  when  he  had  it  at  his  mouth; 
but  Mr.  Church  catched  him  by  the  throat  and 
took  it  from  him,  asking  him  whether  he  intended 
to  swallow  shell  and  all?  He  then  handed  it  to 
Awashonks,  who  ventured  to  take  a  good  hearty 
dram,  and  passed  it  among  her  attendants. 

The  shell  being  emptied  he  pulled  out  his  to 
bacco,  and  having  distributed  it,  they  began  to 
talk. 

Awashonks  demanded  of  him  the  reason  why 
he  had  not,  agreeably  to  his  promise  when  she 
saw  him  last,  been  down  to  Sogkonate  before  now, 
saying,  that  probably  if  he  had  come  then,  accord 
ing  to  his  promise,  they  had  never  joined  with 
Philip  against  the  English. 

He  told  her  he  was  prevented  by  the  wars 
breaking  out  so  suddenly;  and  yet  he  was  after 
wards  coming  down,  and  came  as  far  as  Punka- 
teese,  where  a  great  many  Indians  set  upon  him, 
and  fought  him  a  whole  afternoon,  though  he  did 
not  come  prepared  to  fight.  He  had  but  nine 
teen  men  with  him,  whose  chief  design  was  to  gain 
an  opportunity  to  discourse  some  Sogkonate  In 
dians.  Upon  this  there  arose  a  mighty  murmur, 
confused  noise  and  talk  among  the  fierce  looking 
creatures;  and  all  rising  up  in  a  hubbub,  a  great 
surly  looking  fellow  took  up  his  tomhog,  orwood- 
•en  cutlass,  to  kill  Mr.  Church;  but  some  others 
preveated  him. 

The  interpreter  asked  Mr.  Church  if  he  un 
derstood  what  it  was  that  the  great  fellow,  which 
they  had  hold  of,  said?  He  answered  him,  No. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  Gl 

Why,  said  the  interpreter,  he  says  you  killed  his 
brother  at  Punkateese,  and  therefore  he  thirsts 
for  your  blood.  Mr.  Church  hid  the  interpreter 
tell  him  that  his  brother  began  first;  that  if  he 
had  kept  at  Sogkonate,  according  to  his  desire 
and  order,  he  should  not  have  hurt  him. 

Then  the  chief  Captain  commanded  silence, 
and  told  them,  that  they  should  talk  no  more 
about  old  things,  &,c.  and  quelled  the  tumult,  .so 
that  they  sat  down  again,  and  began  a  discourse  of 
making  peace  with  the  English.  Mr.  Church  asked 
them  what  proposals  they  would  make,  and  on  what 
terms  they  would  break  their  league  with  Philip? 
Desired  them  to  make  some  proposal  that  he 
might  carry  to  his  masters,  telling  them  that  it 
was  not  in  his  power  to  conclude  a  peace  with 
them,  but  that  he  knew  that  if  their  proposals 
were  reasonable,  the  government  would  not  he 
unreasonable;  and  that  he  would  use  his  interest 
with  the  government  for  them.  And  to  encour 
age  them  to  proceed,  lie  put  them  in  mind  that 
the  Pequots  once  made  war  with  the  English, 
and  that  after  they  subjected  themselves  to  the 
English,  the  English  became  their  protectors, 
and  defended  them  against  other  nations  that 
would  otherwise  have  destroyed  them,  &c.  Af 
ter  some  further  discourse  and  debate,  he  brought 
them  at  length  to  consent,  that  if  the  government 
of  Plymouth  would  firmly  engage  to  them,  that 
they  and  all  of  them,  and  their  wives  and  children 
should  have  their  lives  spared,  and  none  of  them 
transported  out  of  the  country,  they  would  sub 
ject  themselves  to  them,  and  serve  them  in  what 
they  were  able. 

Then  Mr.  Church  told  them,  that  he  was  well 
6 


U2  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

satisfied  the  government  of  Plymouth  would  readi 
ly  concur  with  what  they  proposed,  and  would 
sign  their  articles;  and  complimenting  them  upon 
it,  how  pleased  he  was  with  the  thoughts  of  their 
return,  and  of  the  former  friendship  that  had  exist- 
between  (hem,  &,c. 

The  chief  Captain  rose  up,  and  expressed  the 
great  value  and  respect  he  had  for  Mr.  Church; 
and  bowing  to  him,  said,  4t  Sir,  if  you  will  please 
to  accept  of  me  and  my  men,  and  will  head  us, 
we  will  fight  for  you,  and  will  help  you  to  Philip's 
head  before  the  Indian  corn  be  ripe."  And  when 
he  had  ended,  they  all  expressed  their  consent  to 
what  he  said,  and  told  Mr.  Church  they  loved 
him,  and  were  willing  to  go  with  him,  and  fight 
for  him,  as  long  as  the  Knglish  had  one  enemy 
left  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Church  assured  them,  that  if  they  proved 
as  good  as  their  word,  they  should  find  him  their 
and  their  children's  fast  friend.  And,  by  the 
way,  the  friendship  is  maintained  between  them 
to  this  day. 

Then  he  proposed  to  them,  that  they  should 
choose  five  men  to  go  straight  with  him  to  Ply 
mouth.  They  told  him  no;  they  world  not  choose, 
but  he  should  take  which  five  he  pleaded.  Some 
compliments  passed  about  it,  at  length  it  was 
agreed,  that  they  should  choose  three,  and  he  two. 
Then  he  agreed,  that  he  would  go  back  to  the 
island  that  night,  and  would  come  to  them  the 
next  morning,  and  go  through  the  woods  to  Ply 
mouth.  But  they  afterwards  objected,  for  his 
travelling  through  the  woods  would  not-  be  safe 
for  him;  said  the  enemy  might  meet  with  him, 
rmd  kiH..  him,  and  then  they  should  lose  their 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  63 

friend,  and  the  whole  design  ruined  beside.  And 
therefore  proposed,  that  he  should  come  in  an 
English  vessel,  and  they  would  meet  him,  and 
come  on  board  at  Sogkonate-point,  and  sail  from 
thence  to  Sandwich,  which,  in  fine,  was  concluded 
upon. 

So  Mr.  Church  promised  to  come  as  soon  as 
he  could  possibly  obtain  a  vessel,  and  then  they 
parted.  He  returned  to  the  island,  and  was  at 
great  pains  and  charge  to  get  a  vessel;  but  with 
unaccountable  disappointments,  sometimes  by  the 
falseness,  and  sometimes  by  the  faint-heartedness 
of  men  that  he  bargained  with,  arid  something  by 
wind  and  weather,  &c.;  until  at  length,  Mr.  An 
thony  Low  put  into  the  harbour  with  a  loaded 
vessel  bound  to  the  westward,  and  being  made 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Church's  case,  told  him, 
that  he  had  so  much  kindness  for  him,  and  was  so 
pleased  with  the  business  he  was  engaged  in,  that 
he  would  run  the  venture  of  his  vessel  and  cargo, 
to  wait  upon  him.  Accordingly,  next  morning 
they  set  sail  with  a  wind  that  soon  brought  them 
to  Sogkonate-point;  but  coming  there  they  met 
with  a  contrary  wind,  and  a  great  swelling  sea. 

The  Indians  were  there  waiting  upon  the  rocks, 
but  had  nothing  but  a  miserable  broken  canoe  to 
get  aboard  in;  yet  Peter  Awrashonks  ventured  off 
in  it,  and  with  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  and  dan 
ger  got  aboard.  And  by  this  time  it  began  to 
rain  and  blow  exceedingly,  and  forced  them  up 
the  Sound;  and  then  went  away  through  Bristol 
ferry,  round  the  island  to  Newport,  carrying 
Peter  with  them. 

Then  Mr.  Church  dismissed  Mr.  Low,  and 
told  him.  that  inasmuch  as  Providence  opposed 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 


his  going  by  water,  and  he  expected  that  the. 
army  would  be  up  in  a  few  days,  and  probably  if 
he  should  be  gone  at  that  juncture,  it  might  ruin 
the  whole  design;  he  would  therefore  yield  his 


voyage. 


Then  he  wrote  the  account  of  his  trasactions 
•with  the  Indians,  and  drew  up  the  proposals,  and 
articles  of  peace,  and  despatched  Peter  with 
them  to  Plymouth,  that  his  Honor,  the  Governor, 
if  he  saw  cause,  might  sign  them. 

Peter  was  sent  over  to  Sogkonatc  on  the  Lord's 
day  morning,  with  orders  to  take  those  men  that 
were  chosen  to  go  down,  or  some  of  them  at  least 
with  him.  The  time  being  expired  that  was  ap 
pointed  for  the  English  army  to  come,  there  was 
freat  looking  for  them.  Mr.  Church  on  the 
londay  morning,  partly  to  divert  himself  after 
his  fatigue,  and  partly  to  listen  for  the  army,  rode 
out  with  his  wife,  and  some  of  his  friends  to  Ports 
mouth,  under  a  pretence  of  cherrying;  but  came 
home  without  any  news  from  the  army.  But  by 
midnight,  or  sooner,  he  was  roused  with  an  ex 
press  from  Major  Bradford,  who  was  arrived  with 
the  army  at  Pocasset;  to  whom  he  forthwith  re 
paired,  and  informed  him  of  the  whole  of  his  pro 
ceedings  with  the  Sogkonate  Indians.  With  the 
Major's  consent  and  advice,  he  returned  again 
next  morning  to  the  island,  in  order  to  go  over 
th  ;t  way  to  Awashonks,  to  inform  her  that  the 
army  was  arrived,  &c.  Accordingly  from  Sa- 
chueeset-neck,*  he  went  in  a  canoe  to  Sogkonate; 
told  her  that  Major  Bradford  was  arrived  at  Po 
casset,  with  a  great  army,  whom  he  had  informed 

*  The  south-east  corner  of  Rhode-Island 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  60 

of  all  his  proceedings  with  her;  that  if  she  would 
be  advised  and  observe  order,  she  nor  her  people 
need   not    fear  being  hurt  by  them;  told  her,  she 
should  call  all  her  people  down  into  the  neck,  lest 
if  they  should  be  found  straggling  about,  mischief 
might  light  on   them;  that  on   the   morrow   they 
would  come  down  and  receive  her,    and  give  her 
further  orders.      She  promised  to  get  as  many  of 
her  people  together  as  possibly  she  could;  desir 
ing  Mr.  Church  to  consider  that  it  would  be  diffi 
cult  for  to  get  them  together  at  such  short  warn 
ing.     Mr.  Church  returned  to  the  island,    and  to 
the  ariny  the  same  night.     The  next  morning  the 
whole  army  marched  towards  Sogkonate,   as  far 
as  Punkatees;  and  Mr.  Church  with   a  few  men 
went  down  to  Sogkonate  to  call  Awashonks,  and 
her  people  to  come  up  to  the  English  camp.     As 
he  was  going  down,  they  met  with  a  Pocasset  In 
dian,  who  had  killed  a  cow,  and  got  a  quarter  of 
her  on   his  back,  and   her  tongue   in  his   pocket. 
He  gave  them  an   account,    that  he   came   from 
Pocasset   two   days   since    in   company  with  his 
mother,  and  several  other  Indians,  now  hid  in  the 
swamp    above    Nomquid.*      Disarming  him,   he 
sent  him  with  two  men  to  Major  Bradford,   and 
proceeded  to  Sogkonate.     They  saw  several  In 
dians   by   the    way   skulking  about,  but   let  them 
pass.    Arriving  at  Awashonks'  camp,  he  told  her 
he  was   come  to  invite  her  and  her  people  up  to 
Punkateese,f    where   Major    Bradford  now  was 
with  the  Plymouth  army,  expecting   her  and  her 
subjects  to   receive    orders,    until    further    order 
could  be  had  from  the  government.    She  complied, 

*  In  Tiverton.  |  Adjoining  Fogland  Ferry, 

6* 


66  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

and  soon  sent  out  orders  for  such  of  her  subjects 
as  were  not  with  her,  immediately  to  come  in; 
and  by  twelve  o'clock  the  next  day,  she,  with 
most  of  her  number,  appeared  before  the  English 
camp  at  Punkateese.  Mr.  Church  tendered  the 
Major  to  serve  under  his  commission,  provided 
the  Indians  might  be  accepted  with  him,  to  fight 
the  enemy.  The  Major  told  him,  his  orders 
were  to  improve  him,  if  he  pleased,  but  as  for  the 
Indians  he  would  not  be  concerned  with  them. 
And  presently  gave  forth  orders  for  Awashonks, 
and  all  her  subjects,  both  men,  women  and  chil 
dren,  to  repair  to  Sandwich,  and  to  be  there  upon 
peril,  in  six  days.  Awashonks  and  her  chiefs 
gathered  round  Mr.  Church,  where  he  was  walk 
ed  off  from  the  rest,  expressed  themselves  con 
cerned,  that  they  could  not  be  confided  in,  nor 
improved.  He  told  them,  it  was  best  to  obey 
Borders,  and  that  if  he  could  not  accompany  them 
to  Sandwich,  it  should  not  be  above  a  week  be 
fore  he  would  meet  them  there;  that  he  was  con 
fident  the  governor  would  commission  him  to  im 
prove  them.  The  Major  hastened  to  send  them 
away  with  Jack"  Havens,  an  Indian  who  had 
never  been  in  the  wars,  in  the  front,  with  a  flag  of 
truce  in  his  hand.  They  being  gone,  Mr.  Church, 
by  the  help  of  his  man  Toby,  the  Indian  whom 
he  had  taken  prisoner,  as  he  was  going  down  to 
Sogkonate,  took  said  Toby's  mother,  and  those 
that  were  with  her,  prisoners.  Next  morning 
the  whole  army  moved  back  to  Pocasset.  This 
Toby  informed  them,  that  there  were  a  great 
many  Indians  gone  down  to  Wepoiset  to  eat 
clams,  other  provisions  being  very  scarce  with 
them;  that  Philip  himself  was  expected  within 


KING    PHILIP'S    WAR.  67 

three  or  four  days  at  tlie  same  place.  Being 
asked  what  Indians  they  were?  he  answered, 
some  Weetemore  Indians,  some  Mount-Hope 
Indians,  some  Narranganset  Indians,  and  some 
other  Upland  Indians,  in  all  about  300. 

The  Rhode-Island  boats,  by  the  Major's  order, 
meeting  them  at  Pocasset,  they  were  soon  em 
barked.  It  being  just  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening, 
they  could  plainly  discover  the  enemy's  fires  at 
the  place  the  Indian  directed  ta;  and  the  army 
concluded  no  other  but  they  were  bound  directly 
thither,  until  they  came  to  the  north  end  of  the 
island,  and  heard  the  word  of  command  for  the 
boats  to  bare  away.  Mr.  Church  was  very  fond 
of  having  this  probable  opportunity  of  surprising 
that  whole  company  of  Indians  embraced;  but 
orders,  it  was  said,  must  be  obeyed,  which  was  to 
go  to  Mount-Hope,  and  there  to  fight  Philip. 
This,  with  some  other  good  opportunities  of  doing 
spoil  upon  the  enemy,  being  unhappily  missed, 
Mr.  Church  obtained  the  Major's  consent  to 
meet  the  Sogkonate  Indians,  according  to  his 
promise.  He  was  offered  a  guard  to  Plymouth, 
but  chose  to  go  with  one  man  only,  who  was  a 
good  pilot.  About  sun-set,  he,  with  Sabin  his 
pilot,  mounted  their  horses  at  Rehoboth,  where 
the  army  now  was,  and  by  two  hours  sun  next 
morning  arrived  safe  at  Plymouth;  and  by  the 
time  they  had  refreshed  themselves,  the  governor 
and  treasurer  came  to  town.  Mr.  Church  giving 
them  a  short  account  of  the  affairs  of  the  army, 
&c.  his  Honor  was  pleased  to  give  tym  thanks 
for  the  good  and  great  service  he  had  done  at 
Sogkonate,  told  him  he  had  confirmed  all  that  he 
had  promised  Awashonks,  and  had  sent  the  In- 


68  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

dians  back  again  that  brought  his  letter.  He 
asked  his  Honor  whether  he  had  any  thing  later 
from  Awashonks?  He  told  him  he  had  not. 
Whereupon  he  gave  his  Honor  an  account  of  the 
Major's  orders  relating  to  her  and  hers,  and  what 
discourse  had  passed  pro  and  con,  about  them; 
and  that  he  had  promised  to  meet  them,  and  that 
he  had  encouraged  them  that  he  thought  he 
might  obtain  of  his  Honor  a  commission  to  lead 
them  forth  to  fight  Philip.  His  Honor  smilingly 
told  him,  that  he  should  not  want  commission  if 
he  would  accept  it;  nor  yet  good  Englishmen 
enough  to  make  up  a  good  army.  But  in  short 
he  told  his  Honor  the  time  had  expired  that  he 
was  appointed  to  meet  the  Sogkonates  at  Sand 
wich.  The  governor  asked  him,  when  he  would 
go?  He  told  him  that  afternoon,  by  his  Honor's 
leave.  The  governor  asked  him  how  many  men 
he  would  have  with  him?  He  answered,  not 
above  half  a  dozen,  with  an  order  to  take  more  at 
Sandwich,  if  he  saw  cause,  and  horses  provided. 
He  no  sooner  moved  it,  but  had  his  number  of 
men  tendering  to  go  with  him,  among  whom  were 
Mr.  Jabez  Howland  and  Nathaniel  Southworth.* 
They  went  to  Sandwich  that  night,  where  Mr. 
Church,  with  need  enough,  took  a  nap  of  sleep. 
The  next  morning,  with  about  sixteen  or  eighteen 
men,  he  proceeded  as  far  as  Agawom,  where  they 
had  great  expectation  of  meeting  the  Indians,  but 
met  them  not.  His  men  being  discouraged,  about 
half  of  them  returned;  only  half  a  dozen  stuck  by 
him,  and  promised  so  to  do  until  they  should 

*  Both  these  gortlemen  contributed  not  a  little  to  the 
greet  .  pfoi  aances  of  those  days,  and  are  mentioned  by 
(.  (  ;vs  -\ ith  the  greatest  respect. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  69 

meet  with  the  Indians.  When  they  came  to 
Sippican  river,f  Mr.  Howland  began  to  tire, 
upon  which  Mr.  Church  left  him  and  two  more, 
for  a  reserve  at  the  river,  that  if  he  should  meet 
with  enemies  and  be  forced  back,  they  might  be 
ready  to  assist  them  in  getting  over  the  river. 
Proceeding  in  their  march,  they  crossed  another 
river,  and  opened  a  great  bay,  where  they  might 
see  many  miles  along  shore,  where  were  sands 
and  flats;  and  hearing  a  great  noise  below  them 
towards  the  sea,  they  dismounted  their  horses, 
left  them  and  creeped  among  the  bushes,  until 
they  came  near  the  bank,  and  saw  a  vast  company 
of  Indians,  of  all  ages  and  sexes,  some  on  horse 
back  running  races,  some  at  foot-ball,  some  catch 
ing  eels  and  flat  fish,  some  clamming,  &,c.  But 
which  way  with  safety  to  find  out  what  Indians 
they  were,  they  were  at  a  loss.  But  at  length, 
retiring  into  a  thicket,  Mr.  Church  hallooed  to 
them;  they  soon  answered  him,  arid  a  couple  of 
smart  young  fellows,  well  mounted,  came  upon  a 
full  career  to  see  who  it  might  be  that  called, 
and  came  just  upon  Mr.  Church  before  they  dis 
covered  him;  but  when  they  perceived  themselves 
so  near  Englishmen,  and  armed,  were  much  sur 
prised,  and  tacked  short  about  to  run  as  fast  back 
as  they  came  forward,  until  one  of  the  men  in  the 
bushes  called  to  them,  and  told  them  his  name 
was  Church,  and  need  not  fear  his  hurting  of 
them.  Upon  which,  after  a  small  pause,  they 
turned  about  their  horses,  and  came  up  to  him. 
One  of  them  that  could  speak  English,  Mr. 
Church  took  aside  and  examined,  who  informed 
him,  that  the  Indians  below  were  Awashonks  and 

t  Rochester,  «* 


70  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

her  company,  and  that  Jack  Havens  was  among 
them;  whom  Mr.  Church  immediately  sent  for,  to 
come  to  him,  and  ordered  the  messenger  to  inform 
Awashonks,  that  he  was  come  to  meet  her. 
Jack  Havens  soon  came,  and  by  the  time  Mr. 
Church  had  asked  him  a  few  questions,  and  had 
been  satisfied  by  him,  that  it  was  Awashonks  and 
her  company  that  were  below,  and  that  Jack  had 
been  kindly  treated  by  them,  a  company  of  In 
dians,  all  mounted  on  horse  back  and  well  armed, 
came  riding  up  to  Mr.  Church,  but  treated  him 
with  all  due  respects.  He  then  ordered  Jack  to 
go  and  tell  Awashonks,  that  he  designed  to  sup 
with  her  in  the  evening,  and  to  lodge  in  her  camp 
that  night.  Then  taking  some  of  the  Indians 
with  him,  he  went  back  to  the  river  to  take  care 
of  Mr.  Howland.  Mr.  Church  having  a  mind  to 
try  what  metal  he  was  made  of,  imparted  his  no 
tion  to  the  Indians  that  were  with  him,  and  gave 
them  directions  how  to  act  their  parts.  When  he 
came  pretty  near  the  place,  he  and  his  English 
men  pretendediy  fled,  firing  on  their  retreat  towards 
the  Indians  that  pursued  them,  and  they  firing  as 
fast  after  them.  Mr.  Howland  being  upon  his 
guard,  hearing  the  guns,  and  by  the  by  seeing  the 
motion  both  of  the  English  and  Indians,  concluded 
his  friends  were  distressed,  was  soon  on  the  full 
career  on  horseback  to  meet  them,  and  until  per 
ceiving  their  laughing,  did  not  mistrust  the  joke. 
As  soon  as  Mr.  Church  had  given  him  the  news, 
they  hastened  away  to  Awashonks.  Upon  their 
arrival,  they  were  immediately  conducted  to  a 
shelter,  open  on  one  side,  whither  Awashonks 
and  her  chiefs  soon  came  and  paid  their  respects; 
and  the  multitudes  gave  shouts,  that  made  the 
woods  ring. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  71 

It  being  now   about  sun-setting,   or  near  the 
dusk  of  the  evening,  the   Nctops   came   running 
from   all  quarters,    loaded   with  the   tops  of  dry 
pines,  and  the  like  combustible  matter,  making  a 
huge  pile  thereof,  near  Mr.   Church's  shelter,  on 
the  open   side.     And   by  this  time    supper    was 
brought  in,  in  three  dishes,  viz.  a  carious  young 
bass  in  one  dish,  eels   and  flat   fish   in  a   second, 
and  shell   fish  in  a  third;  but  neither  bread   nor 
salt  to  be  seen  at  table.     When  supper  was  over, 
the  mighty  pile  of  pine  knots  and  tops,  &,c.   was 
fired,  and  all  the  Indians,  great  and  small,  gath 
ered  in  a  ring  around  it.     Awashonks,  'with  the 
oldest  of  her   people,  men    and    women   mixed, 
kneeling  down,  made  the  first  ring  next   the  fire, 
and  all  the  lusty  stout  men  standing  up  made  the 
next,  and  then  all  the  rabble  in  a  confused  crew 
surrounded    on    the    outside.        Then    the    chief 
Captain  stepped  in  between  the  rings  and  the  fire, 
with  a  spear  in  one  hand,  and  a  hatchet  in  the 
other,  danced  round  the   fire,  and  began  to  fight 
with  it;  making  mention  of  all  the  several  nations 
and    companies   of   Indians   in   the  country   that 
were  enemies  to  the  English;  and  at  the  naming 
of  every  particular  tribe  of  Indians,   he   would 
draw  out  and  fight  a  new  fire-brand,  and  at  finish 
ing  his  fight  with  each  particular  fire-brand,  would 
bow  to  him  and  thank  him.     And  when  he  had 
named    all    the    several    nations   and  tribes,  and 
fought    them   all,   he  stuck  down   his  spear   and 
hatchet,  and  came  out;  and  another  stepped  in  and 
acted  over  the  same  dance,   with  more  fury,   if 
possible,  than  the  first.     And  when  about  half  a 
dozen  of  their  chiefs  had  thus  acted  their  parts, 
the  Capt.  of  the  guard  stepped  up  to  Mr.  Church 


12  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

and  told  him,  they  were  making  soldiers  for  him, 
and  what  they  had  been  doing  was  all  one  as 
swearing  them,  and  having  in  that  manner  en 
gaged  all  the  stout  lusty  men.  Awashonks  and 
her  chiefs  came  to  Mr.  Church,  and  told  him  that 
now  they  were  all  engaged  to  fight  for  the  En 
glish,  and  he  might  call  forth. all,  or  any  of  them, 
at  any  time  as  he  saw  occasion,  to  fight  the  enemy, 
and  presented  him  with  a  very  fine  firelock.  Mr. 
Church  accepts  their  offer,  drew  out  a  number  of 
them,  and  set  out  next  morning  before  day  for 
Plymouth,  where  they  arrived  the  same  day. 

The  governor  being  informed  of  it,  came  early 
to  town  next  morning,  and  by  that  time  he  had 
Englishmen  enough  to  make  up  a  good  company, 
when  joined  with  Mr.  Church's  Indians,  that 
offered  their  voluntary  service,  to  go  under  his 
command  in  quest  of  the  enemy.  The  governor 
then  gave  him  a  commission,  which  is  as  follows: 

Capt.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  you  are  hereby 
nominated,  ordered,  commissioned,  and  em 
powered  to  raise  a  company  of  volunteers  of  about 
200  men,  English  and  Indians;  the  English  not 
exceeding  the  number  of  sixty;  of  which  company 
or  so  many  of  them  as  you  can  obtain,  or  shall 
see  cause  at  present  to  improve,  you  are  to  take 
the  command  and  conduct,  and  to  lead  them  forth 
novv  and  hereafter^  at  such  time,  and  unto  such 
pi  ices  within  this  colony,  or  elsewhere,  within  the 
confederate  colonies,  as  you  shall  think  fit;  to 
discover,  pursue,  fight,  surprise,  destroy,  or  sub- 
jdue  our  Indian  enemies,  or  any  part  or  parties  of 
them  that  by  the  providence  of  God  you  may 
meet  with;  or  them,  or  any  of  them,  by  treaty 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  73 

and  composition  to  receive  to  mercy,  if  you  see 
reason,  provided  they  be  not  murderous  rogues, 
or  such  as  have  been  principal  actors  in  those 
villanies.  And  forasmuch  as  your  company  may 
be  uncertain,  and  the  persons  often  changed,  you 
are  also  hereby  empowered;  with  the  advice  of 
your  company,  to  choose  arid  commission  a  Lieu 
tenant,  and  to  establish  Serjeants  and  Corporals 
as  you  see  cause.  And  you  herein  improving 
your  best  judgment  and  discretion,  and  utmost 
ability,  faithfully  to  serve  the  interest  of  God,  his 
Majesty's  interest,  and  the  interest  of  the  colony; 
and  carefully  governing  your  said  company  at 
home  and  abroad.  These  shall  be  unto  you  full 
and  ample  commission,  warrant  and  discharge. 
Given  under  the  public  seal,  this  24th  day  of 
July,  1676. 

Per  JOS.  WINSLOW,  Governor. 

Receiving  his  commission,  he  marched  the 
same  night  into  the  woods,  got  to  Middleborough 
before  day,  and  as  soon  as  the  light  appeared, 
took  into  the  woods  and  swampy  thickets,  towards 
a  place  where  they  had  some  reason  to  expect  to 
meet  with  a  parcel  of  Narraganset  Indians,  with 
some  others  that  belonged  to  Mount- Hope. 
Coming  near  where  they  expected  them,  Capt. 
Church's  Indian  scout  discovered  the  enemy,  and 
well  observing  their  fires  and  postures,  returned 
with  the  intelligence  to  their  Captain;  who  gave 
such  directions  for  the  surrounding  of  them,  as 
had  the  desired  effect;  surprising  them  on  every 
side  so  unexpectedly,  that  they  were  all  taken; 
not  so  much  as  one  escaped.  And  upon  a  strict  ex 
amination,  they  gave  intelligence  of  another  parcel 
7 


74  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

of  the  enemy,  at  a  place  called  Munponset-pond. 
Capt.  Church  hastening  with  his  prisoners  through 
the  woods  to  Plymouth,  disposed  of  them  all,  ex 
cepting  one  Jeffrey,  who  proving  very  ingenuous 
and  faithful  to  him,  by  informing  him  where  other 
parcels  of  Indians  harboured.  Capt.  Church 
promised  him,  that  if  he  continued  to  be  faithful 
to  him,  he  should  not  be  sold  out  of  the  country, 
but  should  be  his  waiting  man,  to  take  care  of 
his  horse,  &c.  and  accordingly  he  served  him 
faithfully  as  long  as  he  lived. 

But  Capt.  Church  was  forthwith  sent  out 
again,  and  the  terms  for  his  encouragement  being 
concluded  on,  viz.  that  the  country  should  find 
them  ammunition  and  provision,  and  half  the 
prisoners  and  arms  they  took.  The  Captain  and 
his  English  soldiers  to  have  the  other  half  of  the 
prisoners  and  arms,  and  the  Indian  soldiers  the 
loose  plunder.  Poor  encouragement !  But  after 
some  time  it  wras  mended. 

They  soon  captivated  the  Munponsets,  and 
brought  them  in,  not  one  escaping.  This  stroke 
he  held  several  weeks,  never  returning  empty 
handed.  When  he  wanted  intelligence  of  their 
kennelling  places,  he  would  march  to  some  place 
likely  to  meet  some  travellers  or  ramblers,  and 
scattering  his  company  would  lie  close;  and  sel 
dom  lay  above  a  day  or  two,  at  the  most,  before 
some  of  them  would  fall  into  their  hands,  whom 
he  would  compel  to  inform  where  their  company 
was;  and  so  by  this  method  of  secret  and  sudden 
surprises  took  great  numbers  of  them. 

The  government  observing  his  extraordinary 
courage  and  conduct,  and  the  success  from  heaven 
added  to  it,  saw  cause  to  enlarge  his  commission: 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  75 

gave  him  power  to  raise  and  dismiss  his  forces, 
as  he  should  see  occasion;  to  commission  officers 
under  him,  and  to  march  as  far  as  he  should  see 
cause,  within  the  limits  of  the  three  united  colo 
nies;*  to  receive  to  mercy,  give  quarter,  or  not; 
excepting  some  particular  and  noted  murderers; 
viz.  Philip  and  all  that  were  at  the  destroying  of 
Mr.  Clark's  garrison,  and  some  few  others. 

Major  Bradford  being  now  at  Taunton  with 
his  army,  and  wanting  provisions,  some  carts 
were  ordered  from  Plymouth  for  their  supply,  and 
Capt.  Church  to  guard  them;  but  he  obtaining 
oilier  guards  for  the  carts,  as  far  as  Middlebor- 
ough,  ran  before  with  a  small  company,  hoping  to 
meet  with  some  of  the  enemy;  appointing  the 
carts  and  their  guards  to  meet  with  them  at  Ne- 
mascut,t  about  an  hour  after  sun's  rising  next 
morning.  He  arrived  there  about  the  breaking 
of  the  day-light,  and  discovered  a  company  of  the 
enemy;  but  his  time  was  too  short  to  wait  for 
gaining  advantage,  arid  therefore  ran  right  in  up 
on  them,  surprised  and  captivated  about  sixteen  of 
them,  who,  upon  examination,  informed  him  that 
Tispaquin,  a  very  famous  Captain  among  the 
enemy,  was  at  Assawompset,|  with  a  numerous 
company. 

But  the  carts  must  now  be  guarded,  and  the 
opportunity  of  visiting  Tispaquin  must  now  be  laid 
aside.  The  carts  are  to  be  faithfully  guarded, 
lest  Tispaquin  should  attack  them. 

*  Massachusetts.  Rhode-Island  &  Connecticut. — HUTCH. 

|  Near  Raynham.  The  north  and  west  part  of  Middle- 
borough  was  so  called. 

J  I.i  Middieborough.  The  country  for  considerable  ex 
tent  arouud  Assawompset  porids>  bore  this  name. 


7(5  KING    PHILIP   S    WAR. 

Coming  towards  Taimton,  Capt.  Church  taking 
two  men  with  him,  made  all  speed  to  the  town; 
and  coming  to  the  river  side,  he  hallooed,  and  in 
quiring  of  them  that  came  to  the  river,  for  Major 
Bradford  or  his  Captains,  he  was  informed  they 
were  in  the  town,  at  the  tavern.  He  told  them 
of  the  carts  that  were  coming,  that  he  had  the 
cumber  of  guarding  them,  which  had  already  pre 
vented  his  improving  opportunities  of  doing  ser 
vice.  Prayed  therefore  that  a  guard  might  He 
sent  over  to  receive  the  carts,  that  he  might  be  at 
liberty;  refusing  all  invitations  arid  persuasions  to 
go  over  to  the  tavern  to  visit  the  Major.  He  at 
length  obtained  a  guard  to  receive  the  carts;  by 
whom  also  he  sent  his  prisoners,  to  be  conveyed 
with  the  carts  to  Plymouth,  directing  them  not  to 
return  by  the  way  they  came,  but  by  Bridgwater. 

Hastening  back,  he  proposed  to  encamp  that 
night  at  Assawompset-neck.  But  as  soon  as  they 
came  to  the  river  that  runs  into  the  great  pond 
through  the  thick  swamp,  at  the  entering  of  the 
neck,  the  enemy  fired  upon  them,  but  hurt  not  a 
man.  Capt.  Church's  Indians  ran  right  into  the 
swamp,  and  fired  upon  them,  but  it  being  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening,  the  enemy  made  their  es 
cape  in  the  thickets.  The  Capt.  then  moving 
about  a  mile  into  the  neck,  took  the  advantage  of 
a  small  valley  to  feed  his  horses  ;  some  held 
the  horses  by  the  bridles,  the  rest  on  the  guard 
looked  out  sharp  for  the  enemy,  within  hearing  on 
every  side,  and  some  very  near;  but  in  the  dead  of 
the  night,  the  enemy  being  out  of  hearing,  or  stiil^, 
Capt.  Church  moved  out  of  the  neck,  (not  the 
same  way  he  came  in,  lest  he  should  be  ambus- 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  77 

caded)  towards  Cushnel.*  Here  all  the  houses 
were  burnt.  And  crossing  Cushnet  river,  being 
extremely  fatigued  with  two  nights  and  one  day's 
ramble  without  rest  or  sleep;  and  observing  good 
forage  for  their  horses,  the  Captain  concluded 
upon  baiting,  and  taking  a  nap.  Setting  six  men 
to  watch  the  passage  of  the  river,  two  to  watch 
at  a  time,  wrhile  the  others  slept,  and  so  to  take 
their  turns,  while  the  rest  of  the  company  went 
into  a  thicket,  to  sleep  under  the  guard  of  two 
sentinels  more.  But  the  whole  company  being 
very  drowsy,  soon  forgot  their  danger,  and  were 
fast  asleep,  sentinels  and  all.  The  Captain  first 
awakes,  looks  up,  and  judges  he  had  slept  four 
hours,  which  being  longer  than  he  designed,  im 
mediately  rouses  his  company,  and  sends  away  a 
file  to  see  what  was  become  of  the  watch  at  the 
passage  of  the  river,  but  they  no  sooner  opened 
the  river  in  sight,  but  they  discovered  a  company 
of  the  enemy  viewing  their  tracks,  where  they 
came  into  the  neck.  Captain  Church,  and  those 
with  him,  soon  dispersed  into  the  brush  on  each 
side  of  the  way,  while  the  file  that  were  sent  got 
undiscovered  to  the  passage  of  the  river,  and 
found  their  watch  all  fast  asleep.  But  these 
tidings  thoroughly  awakened  the  whole  company. 
But  the  enemy  giving  them  no  present  disturb 
ance,  they  examined  their  knapsacks,  and  taking 
a  little  refreshment,  the  Captain  orders  one  party 
to  guard  the  horses,  and  the  other  to  scout,  who 
soon  met  with  a  track,  and  following  it,  they 
were  brought  to  a  small  company  of  Indians,  who 
proved  to  be  Little  Eyes,  and  family,  and  near 

*  In  Dartmouth. 


78  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

relations,  who  were  of  Sogkonate,  but  had  for 
saken  their  countrymen,  upon  their  making  peace 
with  the  English.  Some  of  Capt.  Church's  In 
dians  asked  him,  if  he  did  not  know  this  fellow? 
Told  him,  this  is  the  rogue  that  would  have  killed 
you  at  Awashonks'  dance.  And  signified  to  hitn 
that  now  he  had  an  opportunity  to  be  revenged  on 
him.  But  the  Captain  told  them,  it  was  not 
Englishmen's  fashion  to  seek  revenge;  and  that 
he  should  have  the  same  quarter  the  rest  had. 
Moving  to  the  river  side,  they  found  an  old  canoe, 
with  which  the  Captain  ordered  Little  Eyes  and 
his  company  to  be  carried  over  to  an  island. 
Telling  him  he  would  leave  him  on  that  island 
until  he  returned;  and  lest  the  English  should 
light  on  them,  and  kill  them,  he  would  leave  1m 
cousin  Lightfoot,  whom  the  English  knew  to  be 
their  friend,  to  be  his  guard.  Little  Eyes  ex 
pressed  himself  very  thankful  to  the  Captain. 
He  leaving  his  orders  with  Lightfoot,  returns  to 
the  river  side,  towards  Poneganset,  to  Russell's 
orchard.*  On  coming  near  the  orchard,  they 
clapped  into  a  thicket,  and  there  lodged  the  rest 
of  the  night  without  any  fire.  And  upon  the 
morning  light  appearing,  moving  towards  the  or 
chard,  discovered  some  of  the  enemy,  who  had 
been  there  the  day  before,  and  had  beat  down  all 
the  apples,  and  carried  them  away ;  discovered 
also  where  they  had  lodged  that  night,  and  saw 
the  ground  where  they  set  their  baskets  bloody, 
being  as  they  supposed,  and  as  it  was  afterwards 
discovered  to  be,  with  the  flesh  of  swine,  &,c. 

*  The  remains  of  this  orchard,  was  to  be  seen  within 
the  age  of  some  now  living.  It  stood  adjoining  the  old 
garrison. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  79 

which  they  had  killed  that  day.  They  had  lain 
under  the  fences  without  any  fires,  arid  seemed, 
by  the  marks  they  left  behind  them,  to  be  very 
numerous ;  perceived  also,  by  the  dew  on  the 
grass,  that  they  had  not  been  long  gone;  and 
therefore  moved  apace  in  pursuit  of  them.  Trav 
elling  three  miles  or  more,  they  came  into  the 
country  road  where  the  track  parted,  one  parcel 
steering  toward  the  west  end  of  the  great  cedar 
swamp,  and  the  other  to  the  east  end.  The  Cap 
tain  halted,  and  told  his  Indian  soldiers  that  they 
had  heard,  as  well  as  he,  what  some  men  had  said 
at  Plymouth,  about  them,  &c.;  that  now  was  a 
good  opportunity  for  each  party  to  prove  them 
selves.  The  track  having  divided,  they  should 
follow  one  and  the  English  the  other,  being  equal 
in  number.  The  Indians  declined  the  motion, 
and  were  not  willing  to  move  any  where  without 
him,  saying  they  should  not  be  safe  without  him. 
But  the  Captain  insisting  upon  it,  they  submitted. 
He  gave  the  Indians  their  choice  to  follow  which 
track  they  pleased.  They  replied,  they  were 
light  and  able  to  travel,  therefore,  if  he  pleased, 
they  would  take  the  west  track.  And  appointing 
the  ruins  of  John  Cook's  house  at  Cushnet  for 
the  place  to  meet,  each  party  set  out  briskly  to 
try  their  fortunes.  Capt.  Church,  with  his  Eng 
lish  soldiers,  followed  their  track  till  they  came 
near  entering  a  miry  swamp,  when  the  Captain 
heard  a  whistle  in  the  rear,  which  was  a  note  for 
a  halt.  Looking  behind  him,  he  saw  William 
Fobes  start  out  of  the  company  and  make  toward 
him.  The  Captain  hastened  to  meet  him.  Fobes 
told  him  they  had  discovered  abundance  of  In 
dians,  and  if  he  pleased  to  go  a  few  steps  back  he 


80  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

might  see  them  himself.  He  did  so,  and  saw 
them  across  the  swamp.  Observing  them,  he  per 
ceived  they  were  gathering  whortle-berries,  and 
that  they  had  no  apprehension  of  their  being  so 
near  them.  The  Captain  supposed  them  to  be 
chiefly  women,  and  therefore  calling  one  Mr. 
Dillano,  who  was  acquainted  with  the  ground, 
and  the  Indian  language,  and  another  named  Mr. 
Barns,  with  these  two  men  he  takes  right  through 
the  swamp  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  orders  the  rest 
to  hasten  after  them.  Capt.  Church,  with  Dilla 
no  and  Barns,  having  good  horses,  spurred  on, 
and  were  soon  among  the  thickest  of  the  Indians, 
and  out  of  sight  of  their  own  men.  Among  the 
enemy  was  an  Indian  woman,  who  with  her  hus 
band  had  been  driven  off  from  Rhode-Island,  not 
withstanding  they  had  a  house  on  Mr.  Sanford's 
land,  and  had  planted  an  orchard  before  the  war; 
yet,  the  inhabitants  would  not  be  satisfied  till  they 
were  sent  off.  And  Capt.  Church  with  his  fami 
ly  living  then  at  the  said  Sanford's,  came  acquaint 
ed  with  them,  who  thought  it  very  hard  to  turn 
off  such  old  quiet  people.  But  in  the  end  it 
proved  a  providence  and  an  advantage  to  him  and 
his  family,  as  you  may  see  afterwards.  This  In 
dian  woman  knew  Captain  Church,  and  as  soon 
as  she  knew  him,  held  up  both  her  hands,  and 
came  running  towards  him,  crying  aloud,  Church, 
Church,  Church.  Capt.  Church  bid  her  stop  the 
rest  of  the  Indians,  and  tell  them,  the  way  to  save 
their  lives  was  not  to  run,  but  yield  themselves 
prisoners,  and  he  would  not  kill  them;  so  with  her 
help  and  Dillano's,  who  could  call  to  them  in 
their  own  language,  many  of  them  stopped  and 
surrendered  themselves,  others  scampering  and 


KING    PHILIP?S    WAR.  81 

casting  away  their  baskets,  &,c.  betook  them 
selves  to  the  thickets,  but  Capt.  Church  being  on 
horse-back  soon  came  up  with  them,  and  laid  hold 
of  a  gun  of  one  of  the  foremost  of  the  com 
pany,  pulled  it  from  him,  and  told  him  he  must 
go  back.  And  when  he  had  turned  them,  he  be 
gan  to  look  about  him  to  see  whe*e  he  was,  and 
what  was  become  of  his  company,  hoping  they 
might  be  all  as  well  employed  as  himself,  but  could 
find  none  but  Dillano,  who  was  very  busy  in  gath 
ering  up  prisoners.  The  Captain  drove  his  that 
he  had  stopped  to  the  rest,  inquiring  of  Dillano 
for  their  company,  but  could  have  no  news  of  them; 
but  moving  back  picked  up  now  and  then  a  skulk 
ing  prisoner  by  the  way.  When  they  came  near 
the  place  where  they  first  started  the  Indians,  they 
discovered  their  company  standing  in  a  body  to 
gether,  and  had  taken  some  few  prisoners;  when 
they  saw  their  Captain  they  hastened  to  meet  him. 
They  told  him  they  found  it  difficult  getting 
through  the  swamp,  and  neither  seeing  nor  hear 
ing  any  thing  of  him,  they  concluded  the  enemy 
had  killed  him,  and  were  at  a  great  loss  what  to  do. 
Having  brought  their  prisoners  together  they 
found  they  had  taken  and  killed  sixty-six  of  the 
enemy.  Capt.  Church  then  asked  the  old  squaw 
what  company  they  belonged  to?  She  said  they 
belonged  partly  to  Philip  and  partly  to  Qunnap- 
pin  and  the  Narraganset  Sachem.  He  discov 
ered  also,  upon  her  declaration,  that  both  Philip 
and  Q,unnapptO  were  about  two  miles  off,  in  the 
great  Cedar  swamp.  He  inquired  of  her  what 
company  they  had  with  them?  She  answered, 
Abundance  of  Indians.  The  swamp,  she  said, 
was  full  of  Indians  from  one  end  unto  the  other. 


S2  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

that  were  settled  there;  that  there  were  near  an 
hundred  men  come  from  the  swamp  with  them, 
and  left  them  upon  that  plain  to  gather  whortle 
berries,  and  promised  to  call  them  as  they  came 
back  out  of  Sconticut-neck,  whither  they  went  to 
kill  cattle  and  horses  for  provision  for  the  compa 
ny.  She  perceiving  Capt.  Church  move  towards 
the  neck,  told  him  if  they  went  that  way  they 
would  all  be  killed.  He  asked  her  where  they 
crossed  the  river?  She  painted  to  the  upper  pass 
ing  place.  Accordingly  Capt.  Church  passed  so 
low  down  that  he  thought  it  not  probable  they 
should  meet  with  his  track  in  their  return,  and 
hastened  towards  the  island  where  he  left  Little 
Eyes  with  Lightfoot.  Finding  a  convenient  place 
by  the  river  side  for  securing  his  prisoners,  Capt. 
Church  and  Mr.  Dillano  went  down  to  see  what 
was  become  of  Capt.  Lightfoot,  and  the  prisoners 
left  in  his  charge.  Lightfoot,  seeing  and  know 
ing  them,  soon  came  over  with  his  broken  canoe, 
and  informed  them  that  he  had  seen  that  day  about 
an  hundred  of  the  enemy  go  down  into  Sconticut- 
neck,  and  that  they  were  now  returning  again. 
Upon  which  they  three  ran  down  immediately  to 
a  meadow  where  Lightfoot  said  the  Indians  had 
passed,  where  they  not  only  saw  their  tracks  but 
them  also.  Whereupon  they  lay  close  until  the 
enemy  came  into  the  said  meadow,  and  the  fore 
most  set  down  his  load  and  halted,  until  all  the 
company  came  up;  they  then  took  up  their  loads 
and  inarched  again  the  same  way  that  they  came 
down  into  the  neck,  which  was  the  nearest  way 
to  their  camp.  Had  they  gone  the  other  wuy 
along  the  river,  they  could  not  have  missed  Capt. 
Church's  track,  which  would  doubtl-ss  have  ex- 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  83 

posed  them  to  the  loss  of  their  prisoners,  if  not  of 
their  lives.  But  as  soon  as  the  coast  was  clear 
of  them,  the  Captain  sends  his  Lightfoot  to  fetch 
his  prisoners  from  the  island,  while  he  and  Mr. 
Dillano  returns  to  the  company,  and  sends  part  of 
them  to  conduct  Lightfoot  and  his  company  to  the 
aforesaid  meadow,  where  Capt.  Church  and  his 
company  met  them.  Crossing  the  enemies5  track 
they  made  all  haste  until  they  got  over  Mattapoi- 
set-river,*  about  four  miles  beyond  the  ruins  of 
Cook's  house,  where  he  appointed  to  meet  his  In 
dian  company,  whither  he  sent  Dillano  with  two 
more  to  meet  them  ;  ordering  them,  that  if  the  In 
dians  were  not  arrived  to  wait  for  them.  Accord 
ingly,  finding  no  Indians  there,  they  waited  until 
late  in  the  night,  when  they  arrived  with  their 
booty.  They  despatched  a  post  to  their  Captain, 
to  give  him  an  account  of  their  success  ;  but  the 
day  broke  before  they  came  to  him;  and  when 
they  had  compared  successes,  they  very  remarka 
bly  found  that  the  number  that  each  company  had 
taken  and  slain,  was  equal.  The  Indians  had  killed 
three  of  the  enemy,  and  taken  sixty  three  prison 
ers,  as  the  English  had  done  before  them.  Both 
English  and  Indians  were  surprised  at  this  remark 
able  providence,  and  were  both  parties  rejoicing 
at  it;  being  both  before  afraid  of  what  might  have 
been  the  unequal  success  of  the  parties  ;  but  the 
Indians  had  the  fortune  to  take  more  arms  than 
the  English.  They  told  the  Captain,  that  they 
had  missed  a  brave  opportunity  by  parting;  they 
came  upon  a  great  town  of  the  enemy,  viz.  Cap 
tain  Tyasks'  company.  Tyasks  was  the  next  man 

*  In  Rochester. 


84  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

to  Philip.  They  fired  upon  the  enemy  before 
they  were  discovered,  and  ran  upon  them  with  a 
shout;  the  men  ran  and  left  their  wives  and  chil 
dren,  and  many  of  them  their  guns.  They  took 
Tyasks5  wife  and  son,  and  thought  that  if  their 
Captain  and  the  English  company  had  been  with 
them  they  might  have  taken  some  hundreds  of 
them;  and  now  they  determined  not  to  part  any 
more. 

That  night  Philip  sent,  as  afterwards  they 
found  out,  a  great  army  to  waylay  Capt.  Church 
at  entering  of  Assawompset-neck;  expecting  he 
would  have  returned  the  same  way  he  went  in; 
but  that  was  never  his  method  to  return  the  same 
way  that  he  came;  and  at  this  time  going  another 
way,  he  escaped  falling  into  the  hands  of  his  ene 
mies.  The  next  day  they  went  home  by  Scipican,* 
and  got  well  with  their  prisoners  to  Plymouth. 

He  soon  went  out  again,  and  this  stroke  he 
drove  many  weeks  ;  and  when  he  took  any  num 
ber  of  prisoners,  he  would  pick  out  some  that  he 
took  a  fancy  to,  and  would  tell  them,  he  took  a 
particular  fancy  to  them,  and  had  chose  them  for 
himself  to  make  soldiers  of;  and  if  any  would  be 
have  themselves  well,  he  would  do  well  by  them, 
and  they  should  be  his  men,  and  not  sold  out  of 
the  country.  If  he  perceived  they  looked  surly, 
and  his  Indian  soldiers  called  them  treacherous 
dogs,  as  some  of  them  would  sometimes  do,  all  the 
notice  he  would  take  of  it,  would  only  be  to  clap 
them  on  the  back,  and  tell  them,  "  Come,  come, 
you  look  wild  and  surly,  and  mutter,  but  that  sig- 

*  In  Rochester,  about  two  miles  to  the  eastward  of 
Matapoiset,  on  the  Shove. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR,  85 

nifies  nothing,  these  my  best  soldiers  were  a  little 
while  ago  as  wild  and  surly  as  you  are  now;  by 
the  time  you  have  been  but  one  day  with  me,  you 
will  love  me  too,  and  be  as  brisk  as  any  of  them.1" 
And  it  proved  so;  for  there  was  none  of  them  but, 
after  they  had  been  a  little  while  with  him,  and 
seen  his  behaviour,  and  how  cheerful  and  success 
ful  his  men  were,  would  be  as  ready  to  pilot  him 
to  any  place  where  the  Indians  dwelt,  or  haunted, 
though  their  own  fathers  or  nearest  relations 
should  be  among  them,  or  to  fight  for  him,  as  any 
of  his  own  men. 

Capt.  Church  was  in  two  particulars  much  ad 
vantaged  by  the  great  English  army  that  was  now 
abroad.  One  was,  that  they  drove  the  enemy 
down  to  that  part  of  the  country,  viz.  to  the  east 
ward  of  Taunton  river,  by  which  his  business  was 
nearer  home.  The  other  was,  that  when  he  fell  on 
with  a  push  upon  any  body  of  the  enemy,  were  they 
ever  so  many,  they  lied,  expecting  the  great  army. 
And  their  manner  of  marching  through  the  woods 
was  such,  that,  if  they  were  discovered,  they  ap 
peared  to  be  more  than  they  really  were;  for  they 
always  marched  at  a  wide  distance  one  from  the 
other,  for  their  safety;  and  this  was  an  Indian  cus 
tom  to  march  thin  and  scattered.  Capt.  Church 
inquired  of  some  of  the  Indians  that  were  become 
his  soldiers,  how  they  got  such  advantage  often  of 
the  English  in  their  marches  through  the  woods? 
They  told  him  that  the  Indians  gained  great  ad 
vantage  of  the  English  by  two  things;  the  Indians 
always  took  care,  in  their  marches  and  fights,  not 
to  come  too  thick  together;  but  the  English  al 
ways  kept  in  a  heap  together,  that  it  was  as  easy 
to  hit  them  as  to  hit  a  house.  The  other  was. 
8 


86  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

that  if  at  any  time  they  discovered  a  company  of 
English  soldiers  in  the  woods,  they  knew  that 
there  were  all,  for  the  English  never  scattered,  but 
the  Indians  always  divided  and  scattered. 

Capt.  Church  was  now  at  Plymouth,  and  some 
thing  happened  that  kept  him  at  home  a  few  days, 
until  a  post  came  to  Marshfield  on  a  Lord's  cUiy 
morning,  informing  the  Governor  that  a  great 
army  of  Indians  were  discovered,  who,  it  was 
supposed,  were  designing  to  get  over  the  river  to 
wards  Taunton  or  Bridgwater,  to  attack  those 
towns  that  lay  on  that  side  the  river.  The  Gov 
ernor  hastened  to  Plymouth,  raised  what  men 
he  could  by  the  way,  arrived  there  in  the  be 
ginning  of  the  forenoon  exercise;  sent  for  Capt. 
Church  out  of  the  meeting-house,  gave  him  the 
news,  and  desired  him  immediately  to  rally  what 
of  his  men  he  could;  and  what  men  he  had  raised 
should  join  them.  The  Captain  bestirs  himself,  but 
found  no  bread  in  the  store-house,  and  so  was 
forced  to  run  from  house  to  house  to  get  household 
bread  for  their  march;  neither  this  nor  any  thing 
else  prevented  his  marching  by  the  beginning  of  the 
afternoon  exercise.  Marching  with  what  men  were 
ready,  he  took  with  him  the  post  that  came  from 
Bridgwater  to  pilot  him  to  the  place,  where  he 
thought  he  might  meet  with  the  enemy.  In  the 
evening  they  heard  a  smart  firing  at  a  distance 
from  them;  but  it  being  near  night,  and  the  firing 
but  of  short,  continuance,  they  missed  the  place,  and 
went  into  Bridgwater  town.  It  seems  the  occasion 
of  the  firing  was,  that  Philip  finding  that  Capt 
Church  made  that  side  of  the  country  too  hot  for 
him, designed  to  return  to  the  other  side  of  the  coun 
try  that  he  came  last  from.  And  coming  to  Taun 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  87 

ton  river  with  his  company,  they  felled  a  great 
tree  across  the  river,  for  a  bridge  to  pass  over  on; 
and  just  as  Philip's  old  uncle  Akkompoin,  and 
some  other  of  his  chiefs  were  passing  over  the 
tree,  some  brisk  Bridgwater  lads  had  ambushed 
them,  fired  upon  them,  and  killed  the  old  man  and 
several  others,  which  put  a  stop  to  their  coming 
over  the  river  that  night. 

Next  morning  Capt.  Church  moved  very  early 
with  his  company,  which  was  increased  by  many 
of  Bridgwater,  that  enlisted  under  him  for  that 
expedition,  and,  by  their  piloting,  soon  came  very 
still  to  the  top  of  the  great  tree  which  the  enemy 
had  fallen  across  the  river.  The  Captain  espied 
an  Indian  sitting  on  the  stump  of  it  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  and  he  clapped  his  gun  up,  and 
had  doubtless  despatched  him,  but  one  of  his 
own  Indians  called  hastily  to  him,  not  to  fire,  for 
he  believed  it  was  one  of  their  own  men.  Upon 
which  the  Indian  upon  the  stump  looked  about, 
and  Capt.  Church's  Indian  seeing  his  face  per 
ceived  his  mistake,  for  he  knew  him  to  be  Philip; 
clapped  up  his  gun  and  fired,  but  it  was  too  late; 
for  Philip  immediately  threw  himself  off  the  stump, 
leaped  down  a  bank  on  the  side  of  the  river,  and  made 
his  escape.  Capt.  Church,  as  soon  as  possible,  got 
over  the  river,  and  scattered  in  quest  of  PhiJip 
and  his  company  ;  but  the  enemy  scattered  and 
fled  every  way.  He  picked  up  a  considerable 
many  of  their  women  and  children,  among  whom 
was  Philip's  wife,  and  son  about  nine  years  old. 
Discovering  a  considerable  new  track  along  the 
river,  and  examining  the  prisoners,  found  it  was 
Q,unnappin  and  the  Narragansets,  that  were 
drawing  off  from  those  parts  towards  the  Narra- 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

ganset  country.  He  inquired  of  the  prisoners, 
whether  Philip  was  gone  in  the  same  track  ? 
They  told  him  they  did  not  know,  for  he  tied  in 
a  great  fright  when  the  first  English  gun  was  fir 
ed,  and  they  had  none  of  them  seen  or  heard  any 
thing  of  him  since.  Capt.  Church  left  part  of 
his  company  there  to  secure  the  prisoners,  and  to 
pick  up  what  more  they  could  find  ;  and  with 
the  rest  of  his  company  hastened  in  the  track  of 
the  enemy,  to  overtake  them,  if  possible,  be 
fore  they  got  over  the  river.  So  he  ran  some  miles 
along  the  river,  until  he  came  to  a  place  where 
the  Indians  had  waded  over ;  and  he  with  his 
company  waded  over  after  them  up  to  their  arms; 
being  almost  as  wet  before  with  sweat  as  the  riv 
er  could  make  them.  Following  about  a  mile 
further,  and  not  overtaking  them,  and  the  Captain 
being  under  necessity  to  return  that  night  to  the 
army,  came  to  a  halt;  told  his  company,  he  must 
return  to  his  other  men.  His  Indian  soldiers 
moved  for  leave  to  pursue  the  enemy,  though  he 
returned;  they  said,  the  Narragansetts  were  great 
rogues,  and  they  wanted  to  be  revenged  on  them 
for  killing  some  of  their  relations;  named  Tock- 
amona,  Awashonk's  brother,  and  some  others. 
Capt.  Churcft  bid  them  go  and  prosper,  made 
Lightfoot  their  chief,  gave  him  the  title  of  Cap 
tain,  and  bid  them  go  and  acquit  themselves  likg 
men.  And  away  they  scampered  like  so  many 
horses.  Next  morning  early  they  returned  to 
their  Captain,  and  informed  him,  that  they  had 
come  up  with  the  enemy,  and  killed  several  of 
them,  and  brought  him  thirteen  of  them  prisoners; 
were  mighty  proud  of  their  exploit,  and  rejoiced 
much  at  the  opportunity  of  avenging  themselves. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  89 

Capt.  Church  sent  the    prisoners  to  Bridgwater, 
and  sent  out  his   scouts  to  see   what   enemies  or 
tracks  they  could    find;   discovering    some    small 
tracks,  he  follows  them,  found  where  the  enemy 
had  kindled  some  fires,  and  roasted  some  ilesh,  &,c. 
but  had  put  out  their  fires  and  were  gone.       The 
Captain  followed  them  by  the  track,   putting  his 
Indians  in   the  front;  some  of  which  were  such 
as  he  had  newly  taken  from  the  enemy,  and   add 
ed  to  his  company.       Gave  them  orders  to  march 
softly,  and  upon  hearing  a  whistle  in  the  rear,  to 
sit  down  till  further  orders;  or,  upon  discovering 
any  of  the  enemy,  to  stop,  for  his  design  was, 
if  he  could   discover  where   the  enemy  were,  not 
to  fall  upon  them,  unless   necessitated  to  it,  until 
next  morning.     The  Indians  in  the  front  came 
up  with  many  women  and  children,  and  others  that 
were  faint  and  tired,  and  so  not  able  to  keep  up 
with  the  company;  these  gave  them  an  account 
that  Phillip,  with  a  great  number  of  the  enemy, 
were  a  little  before.     Captain  Church's   Indians 
told  the   others,   they  were  their  prisoners,  but  if 
they  would  submit  to  order,  and  be   still,  no  one 
should  hurt  them;  they  being  their  old  acquaint 
ance,  were  easily  persuaded  to  conform.     A  little 
before  sunset  there  was  a  halt  in  the  front,  until 
the  Captain  came  up.  They  told  him  that  they  dis 
covered  the  enemy.      He   ordered  them  to   dog 
them,  and  watch  their  motion   till    it  was    dark. 
But  Philip  soon  came  to  a  stop,  and  fell  to  break 
ing   and  chopping   wood,   to  make   fires  ;  and   a 
great  noise  they  made.      Captain    Church  draws 
his  company  up  in  a  ring,   and  sat  down  in  the 
swamp  without   any  noise  or  fire.       The   Indian 
prisoners  were  much  surprised  to  see  the  English 


90  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

soldiers;  but  the  Captain  told  them,  if  they  would 
be  quiet  and  not  make  any  disturbance  or  noise, 
they  should  meet  with  civil  treatment;  but  if  they 
made  any  disturbance,  or  offered  to  run,  or  make 
their  escape,  he  would  immediately  kill  them  all; 
so  they  were  very  submissive  and  obsequious. 
When  the  day  broke,  Captain  Church  told  his 
prisoners,  that  his  expedition  ,was  such  at  this 
lime  that  he  could  not  afford  them  any  guard  : 
told  them,  they  would  find  it  to  be  their  interest 
to  attend  the  orders  he  was  now  about  to  give 
them,  which  was,  that  when  the  fight  was  over, 
which  they  now  expected,  or  as  soon  as  the 
firing  ceased,  they  must  follow  the  track  of  his 
company,  arid  come  to  them.  An  Indian  is 
next  to  a  blood-hound  to  follow  a  track.  He 
said  to  them,  it  would  be  in  vain  for  them  to 
think  of  disobedience,  or  to  gain  any  thing  by  it, 
Tor  he  had  taken  and  killed  a  great  many  of  the 
Indian  rebels,  and  should  in  a  liltle  time  kill  and 
take  all  the  rest,  &c.  By  this  time  it  began  to 
>) .'  so  light,  as  the  time  that  he  usually  chose  to 
Uiuke  his  onset.  So  he  moved,  sending  two  soldiers 
before,  to  try  if  they  could  privately  discover  the 
enemies'  postures.  But  very  unhappily  it  fell  out, 
that  the  very  same  time  Philip  had  sent  two  of 
his  as  a  scout  upon  his  own  track,  to  see  if  none 
dogge  1  them,  who  espyed  the  two  Indian  men, 
and  turned  short  about,  and  fled  with  all  speed  to 
their  camp,  and  Captain  Church  pursued  as  fast 
as  he  could.  The  two  Indians  set  a  yelling  and 
howling,  and  made  the  most  hideous  noise  they 
could  invent,  soon  gave  the  alarm  to  Philip  and 
his  camp,  who  all  fled  at  the  first  tidings,  left 
their  kettles  boiling,  and  meat  roasting  upon  their 


KING    PHILIP'S    WAR.  91 

wooden  spits;  and  ran  into  a  swamp  with  no  other 
breakfast  than  what  Captain  Church  afterwards 
treated  them  with.  Captain  Church  pursuing, 
sent  Mr.  Isaac  Howland  with  a  party  on  one  side 
)f  the  swamp,  while  himself  with  the  rest,  ran  on 
the  other  side,  agreeing  to  run  on  each  side,  until 
they  met  on  the  further  end,  placing  some  men  in 
secure  stands  at  that  end  of  the  swamp  where 
Philip  entered,  concluding  that  if  they  headed  him 
and  beat  him  back,  that  he  would  take  back  in  his 
own  track.  Captain  Church  and  Mr.  Howland 
soon  met  at  the  further  end  of  the  swamp,  it  not 
being  a  great  one,  where  they  met  with  a  great 
number  of  the  enemy,  well  armed,  coming  out  of 
the  swamp;  but,  on  sight  of  the  English,  they 
seemed  very  much  surprised,  and  tacked  short. 
Captain  Church  called  hastily  to  them,  and  said, 
If  they  fired  one  gun  they  were  all  dead  men;  for 
he  would  have  them  to  know  that  he  had  them 
hemmed  in,  with  a  force  sufficient  to  command 
them,  but  if  they  peaceably  surrendered  they 
should  have  good  quarters,  &c.  They,  seeing 
both  Indians  and  English  come  so  thick  upon 
them,  were  so  surprised  that  many  of  them  stood 
still  and  let  the  English  come  and  take  the  guns 
out  of  their  hands,  when  they  were  both  charged 
and  cocked. 

Many,  both  men,  women  and  children  of  the 
enemy,  were  imprisoned  at  this  time,  while  Philip, 
Tispaquin,  Totoson,  &,c.  concluded  that  the  Eng 
lish  would  pursue  them  upon  their  tracks,  so  were 
waylaying  their  tracks  at  the  first  end  of  the 
swamp,  hoping  thereby  to  gain  a  shot  upon  Cap 
tain  Church,  who  was  now  better  employed  in  tak 
ing  prisoners,  and  running  them  into  a  valley,  in 


92  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

form  something  shaped  like  a  punch-bowl,  and  ap 
pointing  a  guard  of  two  files,  treble  armed  with 
guns  taken  from  the  enemy.  But  Philip  having 
waited  all  this  while  in  vain,  now  moves  on  after 
the  rest  of  his  company  to  see  what  had  become 
of  them;  and  by  this  time,  Capt.  Church  had  got 
into  the  swamp  ready  to  meet  him;  and  as  it  hap 
pened  made  the  first  discovery,  clapped  behind  a 
tree,  until  Philip's  company  came  pretty  near, 
and  then  fired  upon  them,  killed  many  of  them, 
and  a  close  skirmish  followed.  Upon  this,  Philip 
having  grounds  sufficient  to  suspect  the  event  of 
his  company  that  went  before  them,  fled  back  up 
on  his  own  track;  and  coining  to  the  place  where 
the  ambush  lay,  they  fired  on  each  other,  and  one 
Lucus  of  Plymouth,  not  being  so  careful  as  he 
might  have  been  about  his  stand,  was  killed  by 
the  Indians.  In  this  swamp  skirmish,  Captain 
Church  with  his  two  men,  who  always  run  by  his 
side  as  his  guard,  met  with  three  of  the  enemy, 
two  of  which  surrendered  themselves,  and  the 
Captain's  guard  seized  them;  but  the  other,  being 
a  great  stout  surly  fellow,  with  his  two  locks  tied 
up  with  red,  and  a  great  rattle  snake  skin  hanging 
to  the  back  part  of  his  head,  whom  Captain 
Church  concluded  to  be  Totoson,  ran  from  them 
into  the  swamp.  Captain  Church,  in  person,  pur 
sued  him  close,  till  coming  pretty  near  up  with 
him,  presented  his  gun  Between  his  shoulders,  but 
it  missing  fire,  the  Indian  perceiving  it,  turned 
and  presented  at  Captain  Church,  and  missing 
fire  also,  their  guns  taking  wet  with  the  fog  and 
dew  of  the  morn 'tig;  but  the  Indian  turning  short 
for  another  run,  his  foot  tripped  in  a  small  grape 
vine,  and  he  fell  flat  on  his  face.  Capt.  Church 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

was  by  this  time  up  with  him,  and  struck  the  muz 
zle  of  his  gun  an  inch  and  an  half  into  the  back 
part  of  his  head,  which  despatched  him  without 
another  blow.  But  Captain  Church  looking 
behind  him  saw  Totoson,  the  Indian  whom  he 
thought  he  had  killed,  come  flying  at  him  like  a 
dragon;  but  this  happened  to  be  fair  in  sight  of 
the  guard  that  were  set  to  keep  the  prisoners,  who, 
espying  Totoson,  and  others  that  were  following 
him,  in  this  very  seasonable  juncture  made  a  shot 
upon  them  and  rescued  their  Captain,  though  he 
was  in  no  small  danger  from  his  friends  bullets, 
for  some  of  them  came  so  near  him  that  he  thought 
he  felt  the  wind  of  them.  The  skirmish  being 
over,  they  gathered  their  prisoners  together,  and 
found  the  number  that  they  had  killed  and  taken 
was  173,  the  prisoners  which  they  took  over  night 
included,  who  after  the  skirmish  came  to  them  as 
they  were  ordered. 

Now  having  no  provisions  but  what  they  took 
from  the  enemy,  they  hastened  to  Bridgwater, 
sending  an  express  before  to  provide  for  them, 
their  company  being  now  very  numerous.  The 
gentlemen  of  Bridgwater  met  Capt.  Church  with 
great  expressions  of  honour  and  thanks,  and  re 
ceived  him  and  his  army  with  all  due  respect  and 
kind  treatment. 

Capt.  Church  drove  his  prisoners  that  night  in 
to  Bridgwater  pound,  and  set  his  Indian  soldiers 
to  guard  them.  They  being  well  treated  with 
victuals  and  drink,  had  a  merry  night;  and  the 
prisoners  laughed  as  loud  as  the  soldiers,  not  be 
ing  so  treated  a  long  time  before. 

Some  of  the  Indians  now  said  to  Capt.  Church, 
."  Sir,  you  have  now  made  Philip  ready  to  die,  for 


94  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

you  have  made  him  as  poor  and  miserable  as  he 
used  to  make  the  English;  you  have  now  kill 
ed  or  taken  all  his  relations.  That  they  believed 
he  would  now  soon  have  his  head,  and  that  this 
bout  had  almost  broke  his  heart." 

The  next  day  Capt.  Church  moved  and  arrived 
with  all  his  prisoners  safe  at  Plymouth.  The 
great  English  army  was  now  at  Taunton,  and 
Major  Talcot  with  the  Connecticut  forces,  being 
in  these  parts  of  the  country,  did  considerable 
spoil  upon  the  enemy. 

Now  Capt.  Church  being  arrived  at  Plymouth,, 
received  thanks  from  the  government  for  his  good 
service,  &LC.  Many  of  his  soldiers  were  disbanded; 
and  he  thought  to  rest  himself  a  while,  being 
much  fatigued,  and  his  health  impaired,  by  exces 
sive  heats  and  colds,  and  wading  through  rivers, 
&c.  But  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  called 
upon  to  rally,  upon  advice  that  some  of  the  enemy 
were  discovered  in  Dartmouth  woods.  He  took 
his  Indians,  and  as  many  English  volunteers  as 
presented,  to  go  with  him;  and  scattering  into 
small  parcels,  Mr.  Jabez  Howland,  who  was  now. 
and  often,  his  Lieutenant,  arfd  a  worthy  good  sol 
dier,  had  the  fortune  to  discover  and  imprison  a 
parcel  of  the  enemy.  In  the  evening  they  met 
together  at  an  appointed  place,  and  by  examining 
the  prisoners,  they  gained  intelligence  of  Toto- 
son's  haunt;  and  being  brisk  in  the  morning,  they 
soon  gained  an  advantage  of  Totoson's  compa 
ny,  though  he  himself,  with  his  son  about  eight 
years  old,  made  their  escape,  and  one  old  squaw 
with  them,  to  Agawom,  his  own  country.  One 
Sam  Barrow,  as  noted  a  rogue  as  any  among  the 
enemy,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  at  this 


KING    PHILIP5S    WAR.  95 

time.  Capt.  Church  told  him,  that,  because  of 
his  inhuman  murders  and  barbarities,  the  Court 
had  allowed  him  no  quarter,  but  was  to  be  forth 
with  put  to  death,  and  therefore  he  was  to  pre 
pare  ikr  it.  Barrow  replied,  that  the  sentence  of 
death  against  him  was  just,  and  that  indeed  he 
was  ashamed  to  live  any  longer,  and  desired  no 
more  favour  than  to  smoke  a  whiff  of  tobacco  be 
fore  his  execution.  When  he  had  taken  a  few 
whiffs  he  said,  "  I  am  ready."  Upon  which  one 
of  Capt.  Church's  Indians  sunk  his  hatchet  into 
his  brains.  The  famous  Totoson  arriving  at  Aga- 
"wom,*f  his  son,  the  last  that  was  left  of  the  fami 
ly,  Captain  Church  having  destroyed  all  the  rest, 
fell  sick.  The  wretch  reflecting  upon  the  mise- 
raljfcle  condition  he  had  brought  himself  into,  his 
heart  became  a  stone  within  him,  and  he  died. 
The  old  squaw  laid  a  few  leaves  and  brush  over 
him,  and  came  to  Sandwich,  and  gave  this  account 
of  his  death,  and  offered  to  show  them  where  she 
left  his  body;  but  never  had  an  opportunity,  for 
she  immediately  fell  sick  and  died  also. 

Capt.  Church  being  now  at  Plymouth  again, 
weary  and  worn,  would  have  gorre  home  to  his 
wife  and  family,  but  the  Government  being  solic 
itous  to  engage  him  in  the  service  until  Philip  was 
slain,  and  promising  him  satisfaction  and  redress 
for  some  mistreatment  that  he  had  met  with;  he 
fixes  for  another  expedition,  He  had  soon  vol 
unteers  enough  to  make  up  the  company  he  de 
sired,  and  marched  through  the  woods  until  he 
came  to  Pocasset;  and  not  seeing  or  hearing  cf 

*  Several  places  were  called  Agawom,  as  at  Ipswich  and 
Springfield.     This  Agawom  lies   in  Wareham. 
I  Formerly  called  Angawom, — JV,  E,  Memorial. 


96  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

any  of  the  enemy,  they  went  over  the  ferry  to 
Rhode- Island,  to  refresh  themselves.  The  Cap 
tain,  with  about  half  a  dozen  in  his  company,  took 
horses  and  rode  about  eight  miles  down  the  Island, 
to  Mr.  Sandford's,  where  he  had  left  his  wife. 
She  no  sooner  saw  him  but  fainted  with  surprise; 
and  by  the  time  she  was  a  little  revived,  they  es 
pied  two  horsemen  coming  on  a  great  pace. 
Capt.  Church  told  his  company  that  those  men," 
by  their  riding,  came  with  tidings.  When  they 
came  up  they  proved  to  be  Major  Sandford  and 
Capt.  Golding;  who  immediately  asked  Capt. 
Church  what  he  would  give  to  hear  some  news  of 
Philip?  He  replied,  that  was  what  he  wanted. 
They  told  him  they  had  rode  hard  with  some  hopes 
of  overtaking  him,  and  were  now  come  on  purpose 
to  inform  him,  that  there  was  just  now  tidings 
from  Mount-Hope;  an  Indian  came  down  from 
thence,  where  Philip's  camp  now  is,  on  to  Sandy- 
point,  over  against  Trip's,  and  hallooed,  and  made 
signs  to  be  brought  over;  and  being  brought,  he 
reported,  that  he  was  fled  from  Philip,  who,  said 
he,  has  killed  my  brother  just  before  I  came  away, 
for  giving  some  advice  that  displeased  him.  And 
said  he  was  fled  for  fear  of  meeting  with  the  same 
fate  his  brother  had  met  with.  He  told  them  also 
that  Philip  was  then  in  Mount-Hope  neck.  Capt. 
Church  thanked-  them  for  their  good  news,  and 
said  he  hoped  by  to-morrow  morning  to  have  the 
rogue's  head.  The  horses  that  he  and  his  com 
pany  came  on,  standing  at  the  door,  for  they  had 
not  been  unsaddled,  his  wife  must  content  herself 
with  a  short  visit  when  such  game  was  ahead. 
They  immediately  mounted,  set  spurs  to  their 
horses,  and  away. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  97 

The  two  gentlemen  that  brought  him  the  tid 
ings,  told  him,  they  would  gladly  wait  upon  him 
to  see  the  event  of  the  expedition;  he  thanked 
them,  and  told  them,  he  should  be  as  fond  of  their 
company  as  any  men's;  and  in  short,  they  went 
with  him.  And  they  were  soon  at  Tripp's  ferry, 
with  Captain  Church's  company,  where  the  de 
serter  was.  He  was  a  fellow  of  good  sense,  and 
told  his  story  handsomely.  He  offered  Captain 
Church  to  pilot  him  to  Philip,  and  to  help  kill 
him,  that  he  might  revenge  his  brother's  death. 
Told  him,  that  Philip  was  now  upon  a  little  spot 
of  upland,  that  was  in  the  south  end  of  the  miry 
swamp,  just  at  the  foot  of  the  mount,  which  was 
a  spot  of  ground  that  Captain  Church  was  well 
acquainted  with.  By  the  time  they  were  got 
over  the  ferry  and  come  near  the  ground,  half  the 
night  was  spent.  The  Captain  commanded  a 
halt,  and  brought  the  company  together.  He  asked 
Major  Sandford  and  Captain  Golding's  advice, 
what  method  was  best  to  be  taken  in  making  the 
onset,  but  they  declined  giving  him  any  advice, 
telling  him,  that  his  great  experience  and  success 
forbid  .their  taking  upon  them  to  give  advice. 
Then  Captain  CImrch  offered  Captain  Golding 
the  honor,  if  he  would  please  to  accept  it,  of  beat 
ing  up  Philip's  head  quarters.  He  accepted  the 
oifer,  and  had  his  allotted  number  drawn  out  to 
him,  and  the  pilot.  Captain  Church's  instruc 
tions  to  him  were,  to  be  very  careful  in  his  ap 
proach  to  the  enemy,  and  be  sure  not  to  show 
himself,  until  by  day  light  they  might  see  and  dis 
cern  their  own  men  from  the  enemy;  told  him 
also,  that  his  custom  in  the  like  cases  was,  to  creep 
with  his  company,  on  their  bellies,  until  they 


08  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

came  ns  near  as  they  could;  and  that  as  soon  as 
the  enemy  discovered  them,  they  would  cry  out; 
and  that  was  the  word  for  his  men  to  fire  and  fall 
on.  Directed  him  when  the  enemy  should  start, 
and  take  into  the  swamp,  they  should  pursue  with 
speed,  every  man  shouting  and  making  what  noise 
he  could;  for  he  would  give  orders  to  his  ambus 
cade  to  fire  on  any  that  should  come  silently. 

Captain  Church  knowing  that  it  was  Philip's 
custom  to  be  foremost  in  the  flight,  went  down  to 
the  swamp,  and  gave  Captain  Williams  of  Scitu- 
ate,  the  command  of  the  right  wing  of  the  am 
bush,  and  placed  an  Englishman  and  an  Indian 
together,  behind  such  shelters  of  trees,  &,c.  as  he 
could  find,  and  took  care  to  place  them  at  such 
a  distance,  that  none  might  pass,  undiscovered  be 
tween  them.  He  charged  them  to  be  careful  of 
themselves,  and  of  hurting  their  friends,  and  to 
fire  at  any  that  should  conic  silently  through  the 
swamp;  but  it  being  somewhat  further  through 
the  swamp  than  he  was  aware  of,  he  wanted  men 
to  make  up  his  ambuscade.  Having  placed  what 
men  he  had,  he  took  Major  Sandford  by  the 
hand,  and  said,  "  Sir,  I  have  so  placed  them,  that 
it  is  scarce  possible  Philip  can  escape.  The  same 
moment  a  shot  whistled  over  their  heads,  and  then 
the  noise  of  a  gun  towards  Philip's  camp.  Capt. 
Church  at  first  thought  it  might  be  some  gun  fired 
by  accident;  but  before  he  could  speak,  a  whole 
volley  followed,  which  was  earlier  than  he  expect 
ed.  One  of  Philip's  gang  going  forth  by  himself, 
looked  round  him.  Captain  Golding  thought  the 
Indian  looked  directly  at  him,  though  probably  it 
was  only  his  conceit,  so  fired  at  Ijim,  and  upon 
his  firing,  tjie  whole  company  that  were  with  him 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  99 

fired  upon  the  enemy's  shelter,  before  the  Indians 
had  time  to  rise  from  their  sleep,  and  so  overshot 
them.  But  their  shelter  was  open  on  that  side 
next  the  swamp,  and  built  so  on  purpose  for  the 
convenience  of  flight  on  occasion.  They  were 
soon  in  the  swamp,  and  Philip  the  foremost,  who 
starting  at  the  first  gun,  threw  his  petunk  and 
powder-horn  over  his  head,  catched  up  his  gun, 
and  ran  as  fast  as  he  could  scamper,  without  any 
more  clothes  than  his  small  breeches  and  stockings, 
and  ran  directly  on  two  of  Captain  Church's 
ambush.  They  let  him  come  fair  within  shot,  and 
the  Englishman's  gun  missing  fire,  he  bid  the  In 
dian  fire  away,  and  he  did  so  to  purpose,  sent  one 
musket  bullet  through  his  heart,  and  another  not 
over  two  inches  from  it.  He  fell  upon  his  face 
in  the  mud  arid  water,  with  his  gun  under  him, 
By  this  time  the  enemy  perceiving  they  were  way- 
laid  on  the  east  side  of  the  swamp,  tacked  short 
about.  One  of  the  enemy,  who  seemed  to  be  a 
great  surly  old  fellow,  hallooed  with  a  loud  voice, 
and  often  called  out,  lootash,  lootash.  Captain 
Church  called  to  his  Indian  Peter,  and  asked  him 
who  that  was  that  called  so?  He  answered,  it 
was  old  Annawon,*  Philip's  great  Captain,  calling 

*  In  regard  to  the  writing  of  this  word,  a  diversity  of 
opinions  have  arisen.  Some  urge  that  its  termination 
ought  to  be  written  wan,  others  won.  Mr.  Benjaman  Rod 
man,  of  New  Bedford,  has  adopted  that  of  it-cm,  in  naming  a 
vessel  and  marmfactoring  company.  He  says  li  it  is  more 
agreeable  to  analogy."  Deference  ought  to  be  had  to  the 
opinion  of  this  learned  gentleman.  No  doubt,  as  this  word 
is  commonly  understood,  wan  is  more  proper:  but  we,  who 
never  heard  the  native  tongue,  cannot  tell  but  that  they 
pronounced  it  as  if  written  wun,  allowing  this  to  have  been 
the  case,  it  is  certainly  more  proper  to  write  wan.  Hub- 
bard  writes  wan,  and  I  am  for  uniformity. 


100  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

on  his  soldiers  to  stand  to  it,   and   fight  stoutly. 
Now  the  enemy  finding  that  place  of  the   swamp 
wuich  was  not  ambushed,   many  of  them   made 
their  escape  in  the  English    tracks.     The   man 
that  had  shot  down   Philip,  ran  with  all  speed  to 
Captain  Church,  and  informed  him  of  his  exploit, 
who  commanded  him  to  be  silent  about  it,  and  let 
no  man  know  it,  until  they  had  driven  the  swamp 
clear.     When  they  had  driven  the  swamp  through 
and  found  the  enemy  had  escaped,  or  at  least  the 
most  of  them,  and  the  sun  now  up,  and  so  the  dew 
gone,    that    they   could  not   easily    track  them, 
the   whole   company  met  together   at  the    place 
where  the  enemy's    night  shelter    was.       Then 
Captain  Church  gave  them  the  news  of  Philip's 
death,   upon   which  the   whole   army   gave  three 
loud  huzzas.      Captain   Church  ordered  his  body 
to  be  pulled  out  of  the  mire  on  the  upland.      So 
some  of  Captain  Church's  Indians   took  hold   of 
him   by   his    stockings,    and    some  by  his  small 
breeches,  being  otherwise   naked,   and  drew  him 
through  the  mud  to  the  upland;  and  a  doleful, 
great,  naked,  dirty  beast  he  looked  like.     Captain 
Church  then   said,    forasmuch   as  he  had    caus 
ed  many  an  Englishman's  body  to  be  unburied, 
and  to    rot  above  ground,    that    not  one  of  his 
bones  should  be  buried.     And  calling  his  old  In 
dian   executioner,   bid  him  behead    and    quarter 
him.     Accordingly  he  came  with  his  hatchet,  and 
stood  over  him,  but  before  he  struck,   he  made  a 
small  speech,   directing   it  to   Philip,    and    said, 
t;  He  had  been  a  very  great  man,  and  had  made 
many  a  man  afraid  of  him,  but  so  big  as  he  was 
he  would  now  chop  his  a — e  for  him."     And  so 
he  went  to  work,   and  did  as  he  was  ordered. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  101 

Philip  having  one  very  remarkable  hand,  being 
much  scarred,  occasioned  by  the  splitting  of  a  pis 
tol  in  it  formerly,  Captain  Church  gave  the  head 
and  that  hand  to  Alderman,  the  Indian  who  shot 
him,  to  show  to  such  gentlemen  as  would  bestow 
gratuities  upon  him;  and  accordingly  he  got  many 
a  penny  by  it. 

This  being  on  the  last  day  of  the  week,  the 
Captain  with  his  company  returned  to  the  Island, 
tarried  there  until  Tuesday,  and  then  went  off 
and  ranged  through  all  the  woods  to  Plymouth, 
and  received  their  premium,  which  was  thirty 
shillings  per  head,  for  the  enemies  which  they  had 
killed  or  taken,  instead  of  all  wages;  and  Philip's 
head  went  at  the  same  price.  Methinks  it  was 
scanty  reward  and  poor  encouragement;  though 
it  was  better  than  it  had  been  for  some  time  be 
fore.  For  this  march  they  received  four  shillings 
and  sixpence  a  man,  which  was  all  the  reward 
they  had,  except  the  honor  of  killing  Philip. 
This  was  in  the  latter  end  of  August,  1676.* 

Capt.  Church  had  been  but  a  little  while  at 
Plymouth,  before  a  post  from  Rehoboth  came  to 
inform  the  government  that  old  Annawon,  Philip's 
chief  Captain,f  was,  with  his  company,  ranging 

*  The  fall  of  King  Philip,  according  to  Hutchinson,  took 
place  on  the  12th  August,  1676.  And  this  history  clearly 
indicates  that  it  happened  early  in  the  morning  of  a  certain 
day,  therefore,  we  are  able  to  give  the  date  of  this  memo 
rable  event,  with  that  exactness,  which  adds  lustre  to  thq 
pages  of  history. 

t  It  will  be  recollected,  that  in  a  preceding  page,  Tyasks 
was  mentioned  as  Philip's  chief  Captain;  or,  "  the  next  man 
to  Philip."  See  page  83. 

H'ibbard  says,  "  Tispequin  was  next  to  Philip."  Page 
230,  late  edition. 

9* 


102  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

about  their  woods,  and  was  very  offensive  and  per 
nicious  to  Rehoboth  and  Swansey.  Capt.  Church 
was  immediately  sent  for  again,  and  treated  with 
to  engage  in  one  expedition  more.  He  told  them, 
"  Their  encouragement  was  so  poor,  he  feared  his 
soldiers  would  be  dull  about  going  again.'5  But 
being  a  hearty  friend  to  the  cause,  he  rallies  again; 
goes  to  Mr.  Jabez  Rowland,  his  old  Lieutenant, 
and  some  of  his  soldiers  that  used  to  go  out  with 
him.  Told  them  how  the  case  was  circumstanc 
ed,  and  that  he  had  intelligence  of  old  Annawon's 
walk  and  haunt,  and  wanted  hands  to  hunt  him. 
They  did  not  want  much  entreating,  but  told  him, 
they  would  go  with  him  as  long  as  there  was  an 
Indian  in  the  woods.  He  moved  and  ranged 

through  the  woods  to  Pocasset. 

o 

It  being  the  latter  end  of  the  week,  he  proposed 
to  go  on  to  Rhode-Island,  and  rest  until  Monday; 
but  on  the  Lord's  day  morning,  there' came  a  post 
to  inform  the  Captain,  that  early  the  same  morn 
ing  a  canoe  with  several  Indians  in  it  passed  from 
Prudence-Island  to  Poppasquash  neck.*  Capt. 
Church  thought  if  he  could  possibly  surprise  them 
be  might  probably  gain  some  intelligence  of  more 
game;  therefore  he  made  all  possible  speed  after 
them.  The  ferry-boat  being  out  of  the  way,  he 
made  use  of  canoes;  but  by  the  time  they  had 
made  two  freights,  and  got  over  the  Captain,  and 
about  fifteen  or  sixteen  of  his  Indians,  the  wind 
sprung  up  with  such  violence,  that  canoes  could 
not  pass.  The  Captain  seeing  it  was  impossible 
for  any  more  of  his  soldiers  to  come  to  him,  he  told 
his  Indians,  If  they  were  willing  to  go  with  him, 

*  On  the  west  side  of  Bristol. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  103 

he  would  go  to  Poppa  squash,  and  see  if  they  could 
catch  some  of  the  enemy  Indians.  They  were 
willing  to  go,  but  were  sorry  they  had  no  English 
soldiers.  So  they  marched  through  the  thickets 
that  they  might  not  be  discovered,  until  they  came 
to  the  salt  meadow,  to  the  northward  of  Bristol 
town,  that  now  is.  Then  they  heard  a  gun.  The 
Captain  looked  about,  not  knowing  but  it  might 
be  some  of  his  own  company  in  the  rear.  So 
halting  till  they  all  came  up,  he  found  it  was  none 
of  his  own  company  that  fired.  Now,  though  he 
had  but  a  few  men,  was  minded  to  send  some  of 
them  out  on  a  scout.  He  moved  it  to  Capt. 
Lightfoot  to  go  with  three  more  on  a  scout;  he 
said  he  was  willing,  provided  the  Captain's  man, 
Nathaniel,  which  was  an  Indian  they  had  lately 
taken,  might  be  one  of  them;  because  he  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  neck,  and  coming  lately 
from  among  them,  knew  how  to  call  them.  The 
Captain  bid  him  choose  his  three  companions,  and 
go;  and  if  they  came  across  any  of  the  enemy,  not 
to  kill  them  if  they  could  possibly  take  them  alive, 
that  they  might  gain  intelligence  concerning  An- 
nawon.  The  Captain  with  the  rest  of  his  com 
pany  moved  but  a  little  way  further  towards  Pop- 
pasquash,  before  they  heard  another  gun,  which 
seemed  to  be  the  same  way  with  the  other,  but 
further  off.  They  made  no  halt  until  they  came 
into  the  narrow  of  Poppasquash  neck.  Here 
Capt.  Church  left  three  men  to  watch  and  see  if 
any*  should  come  out  of  the  neck,  and  to  inform 
the  scout,  when  they  returned,  which  way  he  was 
gone. 

*  Meaning  the  enemy. 


10i  KING    PHILIP'S    WAR. 

He  parted  the  remainder  of  his  company,  half 
on  one  side  of  the  neck,  and  the  other  with  him 
self  went  on  the  other  side  of  the  neck,  until  they 
met;  and  meeting  neither  with  Indians  nor  canoes, 
returned  big  with  expectations  of  tidings  by  their 
scout.  But  when  they  came  back  to  the  three 
men  at  the  narrow  of  the  neck,  they  told  their 
Captain  the  scout  had  not  returned,  and  they  had 
not  heard  nor  seen  any  tiling  of  them.  This  filled 
them  with  thoughts  of  what  had  become  of  them. 

When  they  had  waited  an  hour  longer,  it  was 
very  dark,  and  they  despaired  of  their  returning 
to  them.  Some  of  the  Indians  told  their  Captain, 
"  They  feared  his  new  man,  Nathaniel,  had  met 
with  his  old  Mount- Hope  friends,  and  had  turned 
rogue.'5  They  concluded  to  make  no  fires  that 
night,  and  indeed  they  had  no  great  need  of  any, 
for  they  had  no  victuals  to  cook,  not  so  much  as  a 
morsel  of  bread  with  them. 

They  took  up  their  lodgings  scattering,  that  if 
possibly  their  scout  should  come  in  the  night,  and 
whistle,  which  was  their  sign,  some  of  them  might 
hear  them.  They  had  a  very  solitary,  hungry 
night.  As  soon  as  the  day  broke  they  drew  off 
through  the  brush  to  a  hill  without  the  neck,  and 
looking  about  them  they  espied  one  Indian  man 
come  running  somewhat  towards  them.  The 
Captain  ordered  one  man  to  step  out  and  show 
himself.  Upon  this  the  Indian  ran  directly  to 
him,  and  who  should  it  be  but  Capt.  Liglitfoot,  to 
their  great  joy.  Capt.  Church  asb  d  him  what 
news?  He  answered,  Good  new  H-  said  that 
u  They  were  all  well,  and  had  caught  ten  Indians, 
and  that  they  guarded  U.em  all  night  jn  one  of  the 
flankers  of  the  old  E ^lisn  garrison;  tLat  their 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  105 

prisoners  were  part  of  Annawon's  company,  and 
that  they  had  left  their  families  in  a  swamp  above 
Mattapoiset  neck.*f"  And  as  they  were  march 
ing  towards  the  old  garrison,  Lightfoot  gave 
Capt.  Church  a  particular  account  of  their  exploit, 
viz.  "  That  presently  after  they  left  him,  they 
heard  another  gun,  which  seemed  towards  the  In 
dian  burying  place,  and  moving  that  way,  they 
discovered  two  of  the  enemy  flaying  a  horse.  The 
scout  clapping  into  the  brush,  Nathaniel  bid  them 
sit  down,  and  he  would  presently  call  all  the  In 
dians  thereabout  unto  him.  They  hid,  and  he 
went  a  little  distance  back  from  them,  and  set  up 
his  note,  and  howled  like  a  wolfe.  One  of  the 
two  immediately  left  his  horse  and  came  running 
to  see  who  was  there;  and  Nathaniel  howling 
lower  and  lower  drew  him  in  between  those  that 
lay  in  wait  for  him,  who  seized  him;  continuing 
the  same  note,  the  other  left  the  horse  also,  fol 
lowing  his  mate,  and  met  with  the  same  fate. 
When  they  had  caught  these  two  they  examined 
them  apart,  and  found  them  to  agree  in  their  story, 
that  there  were  eight  more  come  down  into  the 
neck  to  get  provisions,  and  had  agreed  to  meet  at 
the  burying  place  that  evening.  These  two  be 
ing  some  of  Nathaniel's  old  acquaintance,  he  had 
great  influence  upon  them,  and  with  his  enticing 
story,  telling  them  what  a  brave  Captain  they  had, 
how  bravely  he  had  lived  since  he  had  been  with 
him,  and  how  much  they  might  better  their  con- 

*  In  Swanzey.  There  is  another  Mattapoiset  in  Roch 
ester. 

t  A  small  neck  of  land  in  the  bottom  of  Taunton  bay,  in 
the  midway  between  Mount  Hope,  and  Pocasset  neck. 

HUBBARD. 


106  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

dition  by  turning  to  him,  &c.  so  persuaded  and 
engaged  them  to  be  on  his  side,  which  indeed  now 
began  to  be  the  better  side  of  the  hedge.  They 
waited  but  a  little  while  before  they  espied  the 
rest  of  theirs  coming  up  to  the  burying  place,  and 
Nathaniel  soon  howled  them  in,  as  he  had  done 
their  mates  before. 

When  Capt.  Church  came  to  the  garrison,  he 
met  his  Lieutenant  and  the  rest  of  his  company; 
and  then  making  up  good  fires  they  fell  to  roast 
ing  their  horse-beef,  enough  to  last  them  the 
whole  day,  but  had  not  a  morsel  of  bread;  though 
salt  they  had,  which  they  always  carried  in  their 
pockets,  and  which,  at  this  time,  was  very  accept 
able  to  them.  Their  next  motion  was  towards 
the  place  where  the  prisoners  told  them  they  had 
left  their  women  and  children,  and  surprised  them 
all,  and  some  others  that  were  newly  come  to 
them.  And  upon  examiation  they  held  to  one 
story,  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  where  to  find  An 
na  won,  for  he  never  roosted  twice  in  a  place. 
Now  a  certain  Indian  soldier  that  Capt.  Church 
had  gained  over  to  be  on  his  side,  prayed  that  he 
might  have  liberty  to  go  and  fetch  in  his  father, 
who,  he  said,  was  about  four  miles  from  that 
place,  in  a  swamp,  with  no  other  than  a  young 
squaw.  Capt.  Church  inclined  to  go  with  him, 
thinking  it  might  be  in  his  way  to  gain  some  in 
telligence  of  Annawon;  so  taking  one  English- 

O  ^  ^ 

man  and  a  few  Indians  with  him,  leaving  the  rest 
there,  he  went  with  his  new  soldier  to  look  for 
his  father.  When  he  came  to  the  swamp  he  bid 
the  Indian  go  and  see  if  he  could  find  his  father. 
He  was  no  sooner  gone  but  Capt.  Church  discov 
ered  a  track  coming  down  out  of  the  woods;  upon 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  107 

which  he  and  his  little  company  lay  close,  some 
on  one  side  of  the  track  and  some  on  the  other. 
They  heard  the  Indian  soldier  make  a  howling 
for  his  father;  and  at  length  somebody  answered 
him;  but  while  they  were  listening,  they  thought 
they  heard  somebody  coming  towards  them.  They 
presently  saw  an  old  man  coming  up  with  a  gun 
on  his  shoulder,  and  a  young  woman  following,  in 
a  track  which  they  lay  by.  They  let  them  come 
up  between  them,  and  then  started  up  and  laid 
hold  of  them  both.  Capt  Church  immediately  ex 
amined  them  apart,  telling  them  what  they  must 
trust  to  if  they  told  false  stories.  He  asked  the 
young  woman  what  company  they  came  from  last? 
She  said  from  Capt.  Annawon's.  He  asked  her 
how  many  were  in  company  with  him  when  she 
left  him?  She  said,  fifty  or  sixty.  He  asked  her 
liowT  many  miles  it  was  to  the  place  where  she  left 
him?  She  said  she  did  not  understand  mil^s,  but 
he  was  up  in  Squannaconk  swamp.*  The  old 
man,  who  had  been  one  of  Philip's  council,  upon 
examination,  gave  exactly  the  same  account. 
Capt.  Church  asked  him  if  they  could  get  there 
that  night?  He  said,  if  they  went  presently,  and 
travelled  stoutly,  they  might  get  there  by  sunset. 
He  asked  whither  he  was  going?  He  answered^ 
tlmt  Annawon  had  sent,  him  down  to  look  for 
some  Indians,  that  wrere  gone  down  into  Mount- 
Hope  neck  to  kill  provisions.  Capt.  Church  let 
him  know  that  those  Indians  were  all  his  prison 
ers.  By  this  time  came  the  Indian  soldier,  and 
brought  his  father  and  one  Indian  more.  The 
Captain  was  now  in  a  great  strait  of  mind  what 

*  Southeasterly  part  of  Rehoboth, 


108  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR, 

to  do  next.  He  had  a  mind  to  give  Anna  won  a 
visit,  as  he  knew  now  where  to  find  him;  hut  his 
company  was  very  small,  only  half  a  dozen  men 
beside  himself,  and  was  under  the  necessity  of 
sending  somebody  back  to  acquaint  his  Lieu 
tenant  and  company  with  his  proceedings..  How 
ever,  he  asked  his  small  company,  whether 
they  would  willingly  go  with  him,  and  give 
Annawon  a  visit?  They  told  him  they  were  al 
ways  ready  to  obey  his  commands,  &,c.  But 
withal,  told  him  that  they  knew  this  Capt.  Anna- 
won  was  a  great  soldier,  that  he  had  been  a  val 
iant  Captain  under  Asuhmequin,  Philip's  father, 
and  that  he  had  been  Philip's  chieftain  all  this 
war;  a  very  subtle  man,  and  of  great  resolution, 
and  had  often  said,  that  he  would  never  be  taken 
alive  by  the  English.  And  moreover,  they  knew 
that  the  men  that  were  with  him,  were  resolute 
fellows,  some  of  Philip's  chief  soldiers,  and  there 
fore  feared  whether  it  was  practicable  to  make  an 
attempt  upon  him  with  so  small  a  handful  of  as 
sistants  as  were  now  with  him.  Told  him  fur 
ther,  that  it  would  be  a  pity  that  after  all  the 
great  things  he  had  done,  he  should  throw  away 
his  life  at  last.  Upon  which  he  replied,  That  he 
doubted  not  Annawon  was  a  subtle  and  valiant 
man;  that  he  had  a  long  time  but  in  vain  sought 
for  him,  and  never  till  now  could  find  his  quar 
ters,  and  he  was  very  loath  to  miss  of  the  oppor 
tunity,  and  doubted  not  but  that  if  they  would 
cheerfully  go  with  him,  the  same  Almighty  Prov 
idence  that  had  hitherto  protected  and  befriended 
them  would  do  so  still,  &c.  Upon  this  with  one 
consent  they  said,  they  would  go.  Capt.  Church 
then  turned  to  one  Cook  of  Plymouth,  the  only 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  109 

Englishman  then  with  him,  and  asked  him,  What 
he  thought  of  it?  He  replied,  "  Sir,  I  am  never 
afraid  of  going  any  where  when  you  are  with  me.r5 
Then  Captain  Church  asked  the  old  Indian,  if  he 
could  take  his  horse  with  him?  for  he  conveyed 
a  horse  thus  far  with  him.  He  replied,  that  it  was 
impossible  for  a  horse  to  pass  the  swamps.  There 
fore  he  sent  away  his  new  Indian  soldier  with  his 
father  and  the  Captain's  horse  to  his  Lieutenant, 
and  orders  for  him  to  move  to  Taunton  with  the 
prisoners,  to  secure  them  there,  and  to  come  out 
in  the  morning,  in  the  Rehoboth  road,  in  which 
he  might  expect  to  meet  him,  if  he  were  alive  and 
had  success. 

The  Captain  then  asked  the  old  fellow,  if  he 
would  pilot  him  to  Annawon?  He  answered,  that 
he  having  given  him  his  life,  he  was  obliged  to 
serve  him.  He  bid  him  move  on  then,  and  they 
followed.  The  old  man  would  out-travel  them  so 
far  sometimes  that  they  were  almost  out  of  sight, 
but  looking  over  his  shoulder,  and  seeing  them 
behind,  he  would  halt.  Just  as  the  sun  was  set 
ting,  the  old  man  made  a  full  stop,  and  sat  down; 
the  company  coming  up  also  sat  down,  being  all 
weary.  Captain  Church  asked,  what  news?  He 
answered,  that  about  that  time  in  the  evening, 
Captain  Annawon  sent  out  his  scouts  to  see  if  the 
coast  was  clear,  and  as  soon  as  it  began  to  grow 
dark  the  scouts  returned.  And  then,  said  he,  we 
may  move  again  securely.  When  it  began  to 
grow  dark  the  old  man  stood  up  again.  Captain 
Church  asked  him,  if  he  would  take  a  gun  and 
fight  for  him?  He  bowed  very  low,  and  prayed 
him  not  to  impose  such  a  thing  upon  him,  as  to 
fight  against  Captain  Annawon  his  old  friend. 
10 


110  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

But  says  he,  I  will  go  along  with  you,  and  be 
helpful  to  you,  and  will  lay  hands  on  any  man 
that  shall  offer  to  hurt  you.  It  being  now  pretty 
dark,  they  moved  close  together;  anon  they  heard 
a  noise.  The  Captain  stayed  the  old  man  with 
his  hand,  and  asked  his  own  men  what  noise  they 
thought  it  might  be?  They  concluded  it  to  be  the 
pounding  of  a  mortar.  The  old  man  had  given 
Captain  Church  a  description  of  the  place*  where 
Annawon  now  lay,  and  of  the  difficulty  of  getting 
at  him.  Being  sensible  that  they  were  pretty 
near  them,  with  two  of  his  Indians  he  creeps  to 
the  edge  of  the  rocks,  from  whence  he  could  see 
their  camps.  He  saw  three  companies  of  Indians 
at  a  little  distance  from  each  other,  being  easy  to 
be  discovered  by  the  light  of  their  fires.  He  saw 
also  the  great  Annawon  and  his  company,  who 
had  formed  his  camp  or  kennelling-place,  by  fall 
ing  a  tree  under  the  side  of  the  great  clefts  of 
rocks,  and  setting  a  row  of  birch  bushes  up  against 
it,  where  himself,  his  son,  and  some  of  his  chiefs 
had  taken  up  their  lodging,  and  made  great  fires 
without  them,  and  had  their  pots  and  kettles  boil 
ing,  and  spits  roasting.  Their  arms  also  he  dis 
covered,  all  set  together  in  a  place  fitted  for  the 
purpose,  standing  upon  end  against  a  stick  lodged 
in  two  crotches,  and  a. mat  placed  over  them,  to 

*  This  solitary  retreat  is  in  Rehoboth,  but  so  near  Taun- 
lon  line,  that  many,  in  telling  this  story,  report  it  to  be  in 
the  latter.  It  is  in  a  swamp,  and  being  a  small  rising  ground, 
is  at  certain  seasons  almost  surrounded  by  water.  On  this 
rise  is  a  great  rock,  or  rather  ledge  of  rocks,  rising  up  to  con 
siderable  height,  and  on  the  southeast  side  is  an  opening  of 
an  angular  shape,  in  which  was  Annawon's  tent.  It  appears 
that  the  reason  of  their  not  attacking  him  in  front  was,  its 
r»pen  situation,  consequently  must  have  been  discovered. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  Ill 

keep  them  from  the  wet  or  dew.  The  old  Anna- 
won' s  feet  and  his  son's  head  were  so  near  the 
arms,  as  almost  to  touch  them;  but  the  rocks 
were  so  steep  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  down, 
only  as  they  lowered  themselves  down  by  the 
bows,  and  the  bushes  that  grew  in  the  cracks  of 
the  rocks.  Captain  Church  creeping  back  again 
to  the  old  man,  asked  him  if  there  was  no  possibil 
ity  of  getting  at  them  some  other  way?  He  an 
swered  no;  that  he  and  all  that  belonged  to  An- 
nawon  were  ordered  to  come  that  way,  and  none 
could  come  any  other  way  without  difficulty  or 
danger  of  being  shot. 

Captain  Church  then  ordered  the  old  man  and 
his  daughter  to  go  down  foremost,  with  their  bas 
kets  at  their  backs,  that  when  Annawon  saw  them 
with  their  baskets  he  should  not  mistrust  the  in 
trigue.  Captain  Church  and  his  handful  of  sol 
diers  crept  down  also  under  the  shadow  of  these 
two  and  their  baskets,  and  the  Captain  himself 
crept  close  behind  the  old  man,  with  his  hatchet 
in  his  hand,  and  stepped  over  the  young  man's 
head  to  the  arms.  The  young  Annawon  discovering 
him,  wrapped  his  blanket  over>his  head  and  shrunk 
up  in  a  heap.  The  old  Captain  Annawon  start 
ed  up  on  his  breech,  and  cried  out  Ilowoh!  and 
despairing  of  escape,  threw  himself  back  again, 
and  lay  silent  until  Captain  Church  had  secured 
all  the  arms,  &LC.  And  having  secured  that  com 
pany,  he  sent  his  Indian  soldiers  to  the  other  fires 
and  companies,  giving  them  instructions  what  to 
do  and  say.  Accordingly,  they  went  into  the 
midst  of  them.  When  they  discovered  themselves 
who  they  were,  told  them  that  their  Captain  An 
na  won  was  taken,  and  it  would  be  best  for  them 


112  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

quietly  and  peaceably  to  surrender  themselves, 
which  would  procure  good  quarters  for  them;  for  if 
they  should  pretend  to  resist  or  make  their  escape, 
it  would  be  in  vain,  and  they  could  expect  no 
other  but  that  Captain  Church  with  his  great  army 
who  had  now  entrapped  them,  would  cut  them  to 
pieces;  told  them  also,  if  they  would  submit  them 
selves,  and  deliver  up  all  their  arms  unto  them, 
and  keep  every  man  his  place  until  it  was  day, 
they  would  assure  them  that  their  Captain,  who 
had  been  so  kind  to  themselves  when  they  surren 
dered  to  him,  would  be  as  kind  to  them.  Now 
they  being  old  acquaintance,  and  many  of  them 
relations,  did  much  the  readier  give  heed  to  what 
they  said,  and  surrendered  up  their  arms  to  them, 
both  their  guns  and  their  hatchet,  and  were  forth 
with  carried  to  Captain  Church. 

Things  being  so  far  settled,  Captain  Church 
asked  Annawon,  what  he  had  for  supper?  for, 
said  he,  I  am  come  to  sup  with  you.  Taubot, 
said  Annawon,  with  a  big  voice,  and  looking 
about  upon  his  women,  bid  them  hasten  and  get 
Captain  Church  and  his  company  some  supper. 
Then  turned  to  Captain  Church  and  asked  him, 
whether  he  would  eat  cow-beef  or  horse-beef?  The 
Captain  told  him  cow-beef  would  be  most  accept 
able.  It  was  soon  got  ready,  and  pulling  his  lit 
tle  bag  of  salt  out  of  his  pocket,  which  was  all 
the  provision  he  brought  with  him,  he  season 
ed  his  cow-beef,  so  that  with  it  and  the  dried  green 
corn,  which  the  old  squaw  was  pounding  in  the 
mortar,  while  they  were  sliding  down  the  rocks, 
he  made  a  very  hearty  supper.  And  this  pound 
ing  in  the  mortar  proved  lucky  for  Capt,  Church's 
getting  down  the  rocks;  for  when  the  old  squaw 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

pounded,  they  moved,  and  when  she  ceased,  to 
turn  the  corn,  they  ceased  creeping;  the  noise  of 
the  mortar  prevented  the  enemy's  hearing  their 
creeping,  and  the  corn  being  now  dressed,  sup 
plied  the  want  of  bread,  and  gave  a  fine  relish 
with  the  cow-beef.  Supper  being  over,  Captain 
Church  sent  two  of  his  own  men  to  inform  the 
other  companies,  that  he  had  killed  Philip,  and 
had  taken  their  friends  in  Mount-Hope  neck,  but 
had  spared  their  livns,  and  that  he  had  subdued 
now  all  the  enemy,  he  supposed,  excepting  this 
company  of  Annawon's.  And  now  if  they  would 
be  orderly  and  keep  their  places  until  morning, 
they  should  have  good  quarters,  and  that  he  would 
carry  them  to  Taunton,  where  they  might  see 
their  friends  again. 

The  messengers  returned,  that  the  Indians 
yielded  to  his  proposals.  Capt.  Church  thought 
it  was  now  time  for  him  to  take  a  nap,  having 
had  no  sleep  in  two  days  and  one  night  before; 
told  his  men  if  they  would  let  him  sleep  two 
hours,  they  should  sleep  all  the  rest  of  the  night. 
He  laid  himself  down  and  endeavoured  to  sleep, 
but  all  disposition  to  sleep  departed  from  him. 
After  he  had  layed  a  little  while  he  looked  up  to 
see  how  his  watch  managed,  but  found  them  all 
fast  asleep.  Now  Capt.  Church  had  told  Capt. 
Annawon's  company,  as  he  had  ordered  his  In 
dians  to  tell  the  others,  that  their  lives  should  all 
be  spared,  excepting  Capt.  Annawon's,  and  it 
was  not  in  his  power  to  promise  him  his  life,  but 
he  must  carry  him  to  his  masters  at  Plymouth, 
and  he  would  entreat  them  for  his  life.  Now 
when  Capt.  Church  found  not  only  his  own  men, 
but  all  the  Indians  fast  asleep,  Aanawon  only  ex- 


114  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR, 

cepted,  whom  he  perceived  was  as  broad  awake 
as  himself;  and  so  they  lay  looking  one  upon  the 
other  perhaps  an  hour.  Capt.  Church  said  noth 
ing  to  him,  for  he  could  not  speak  Indian,  and 
thought  Annawon  could  not  speak  English;  at 
length  Annawon  raised  himself  up,  cast  off  his 
blanket,  and  with  no  more  clothes  than  his  small 
breeches,  walked  a  little  way  back  from  the  com 
pany.  Capt.  Church  thought  no  other  but  that  he 
had  occasion  to  ease  himself,  and  so  walked  to 
some  distance  rather  than  offend  him.  But  by 
and  by  he  was  gone  out  of  sight  and  hearing,  and 
then  Capt.  Church  began  to  suspect  some  ill  de 
sign  in  him,  and  got  all  the  guns  close  to  him, 
and  crouded  himself  close  under  young  Annawon, 
that  if  he  should  any  where  get  a  gun  he  should 
not  make  a  shot  at  him  without  endangering  his 
son.  Lying  very  still  awhile,  waiting  the  event, 
at  length  he  heard  somebody  coming  the  same 
way  that  Annawon  went.  The  moon  now  shin 
ing  bright,  he  saw  him  at  a  distance  coming  with 
something  in  his  hands,  and  coming  up  to  Capt. 
Church,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  before  him,  and 
offered  him  what  he  had  brought,  and  speaking  in 
plain  English,  said,  u  Great  Captain,  you  have 
killed  Philip,  and  conquered  his  country;  for  I 
believe  that  1  and  my  company  are  the  last  that 
war  against  the  English,  so  suppose  the  war  is 
ended  by  your  means;  and  therefore  these  things 
belong  unto  you."  Then  opening  his  pack,  he 
pulled  out  Philip's  belt  curiously  wrought  with 
wompom,  being  nine  inches  broad,  wrought  with 
black  and  white,  in  various  figures  and  flowers, 
and  pictures  of  many  birds  and  beasts.  This, 
when  hung  upon  Mr.  Church's  shoulders,  reach- 


KING    PHILIP?S    WAR.  115 

ed  bis  ancles;  and  another  belt  of  wompom  he 
presented  him,  wrought  after  the  former  manner, 
which  Philip  was  wont  to  put  upon  his  head.  It 
had  two  flags  on  the  back  part,  wrhich  hung  down 
on  his  back,  and  another  small  belt  with  a  star 
upon  the  end  of  it,  which  he  used  to  hang  on  his 
breast;  and  they  were  all  edged  with  red  hair, 
which  Annawon  <said  they  got  in  the  Mahog's 
country.  Then  he  pulled  out  two  horns  of  glaz 
ed  'powder,  and  a  red  cloth  blanket.  He  told 
Capt.  Church  these  were  Philip's  royalties,  which 
he  was  wont  to  adorn  himself  with  when  he  sat  in 
state.  That  he  thought  himself  happy  that  he 
had  an  opportunity  to  present  them  to  Capt, 
Church,  who  had  won  them,  &c.  So  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  night  in  discourse;  and  he 
gave  an  account  of  what  mighty  success  he  had 
formerly  in  wars  against  many  nations  of  Indians, 
when  he  served  Asuhmequin,  Philip's  father,  &,c. 
In  the  morning,  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  the  Cap 
tain  matched  with  his  prisoners  out  of  that  swam 
py  country  towards  Taunton,  met  his  Lieutenant 
and  company  about  four  miles  out  of  town,  who 
expressed  a  great  deal  of  joy  to  see  him  again, 
and  said,  it  was  more  than  ever  he  expected. 
They  went  into  Taunton,  were  civilly  and  kindly 
treated  by  the  inhabitants;  refreshed  and  rested 
themselves  that  night.  Early  next  morning,  the 
Captain  took  old  Annawon,  and  half  a  dozen  of 
his  Indian  soldiers,  and  his  own  man,  and  went  to 
Rhode- Island,  sending  the  rest  of  his  company 
and  his  prisoners  by  his  Lieutenant,  to  Plymouth. 
Tarrying  two  or  three  days  upon  the  Island,  he 
then  went  to  Plymouth,  and  carried  his  wife  and 
his  two  children  with  him. 


116  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

Capt.  Church  had  been  but  a  little  while  at 
Plymouth,  when  he  was  informed  of  a  parcel  of 
Indians  who  had  haunted  the  woods  between 
Plymouth  and  Sippican,  that  did  great  damage  to 
the  English,  in  killing  their  cattle,  horses  and 
swine;  the  Captain  was  soon  in  pursuit  of  them. 
Went  out  from  Plymouth  the  next  Monday  in  the 
afternoon,  and  next  morning  early  they  discover 
ed  a  tract.  The  Captain  sent  two  Indians  on  the 
track  to  see  what  they  could  discover,  while  he 
and  his  company  followed  gently  after;  but  the 
two  Indians  soon  returned  with  tidings  that  they 
discovered  the  enemy  sitting  round  their  fires,  in 
a  thick  place  of  brush.  When  they  came  pretty 
near  the  place,  the  Captain  ordered  every  man  to 
creep  as  he  did,  and  surround  them  by  creeping 
as  near  as  they  could,  till  they  should  be  discov 
ered,  and  then  to  run  on  upon  them  and  take  them 
alive,  if  possible,  for  their  prisoners  were  their 
pay.  They  did  so,  and  took  every  one  that  was 
at  the  fires,  not  one  escaping.  Upon  examina 
tion  they  agreed  in  their  stories;  that  they  belong 
ed  to  Tispaquin,  who  was  gone  with  John  Bump, 
and  one  more,  to  Agawom*  and  Sippican, f  to  kill 
horses,  and  were  not  expected  back  in  two  or 
three  days. 

This  same  Tispaquin  had  been  a  great  Captain, 
and  the  Indians  reported  that  he  was  such  a  great 
Pauivau,  that  no  bullet  could  enter  him.  Capt. 
Church  said  he  would  not  have  him  killed,  for 
there  was  a  war  broken  out  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  country,  and  he  would  have  him  saved  to  go 

*  Wareham. 

|  Rochester,  two  miles  east  of  Matapoiset. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  117 

with  him  to  fight  the  eastern  Indians.  Agreea 
bly  he  left  two  old  squaws,  of  the  prisoners,  and 
bid  them  tarry  there  until  their  Capt.  Tispaquin 
returned,  and  to  tell  him  that  Church  had  been 
there,  and  had  taken  his  wife  and  children,  and 
company,  and  carried  them  down  to  Plymouth; 
and  would  spare  all  their  lives,  and  his  too,  if  he 
would  come  down  to  them,  and  bring  the  other 
two  that  were  with  him,  and  they  should  be  his 
soldiers,  &c.  Capt.  Church  then  returned  to 
Plymouth,  leaving  the  old  squaws  well  provided 
for,  and  buisket  for  Tispaquin  when  he  returned. 
Telling  his  soldiers  that  he  doubted  not  but  he 
had  laid  a  trap  that  would  take  him.  Captain 
Church  two  days  after,  went  to  Boston,  the  Com 
missioners  then  sitting,  and  waited  upon  the  hon 
orable  Gov.  Leverett,*  who  then  lay  sick.  He 
requested  Capt.  Church  to  give  him  some  account 
of  the  war,  who  readily  obliged  his  honor  therein, 
to  his  great  satisfaction,  as  he  was  pleased  to  ex 
press  himself;  taking  him  by  the  hand,  and  tell 
ing  him,  if  it  pleased  God  that  he  lived,  he  would 
make  it  a  brace  of  a  hundred  pounds  advantage  to 
him  out  of  the  Massachusetts  colony;  and  would 
endeavour  that  the  rest  of  the  colonies  should  do 
proportionably.  But  he  died  within  a  fortnight 
after,  and  so  nothing  was  done  of  that  nature. 
The  same  day  Tispaquin  came  in,  and  those  that 
were  with  him;  but  when  Capt.  Church  returned 
from  Boston,  he  found  to  his  grief,  the  heads  of 

;*  Gov.  John  Leverett  was  a  very  distinguished  man,  both 
as  a  warrior  and  statesman.  He  was  universally  beloved 
in  his  life  time,  and.  at  his  death,  as  deeply  lamented.  He 
died  March  16th,  1678. 


118  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

Annawon,  Tispaquin,*  &c.  cut  off,  which  were 
the  last  of  Philip's  friends.  The  General  Court 
of  Plymouth,  then  sitting,  sent  for  Capt.  Church, 
who  waited  upon  them  accordingly,  and  received 
their  thanks  for  his  good  service,  which  they  unan 
imously  voted,  which  was  all  that  Capt.  Church 
had  for  his  aforesaid  service. 

Afterwards,  in  the  year  1676,f  in  the  month  of 
January,  Capt.  Church  received  a  commission 
from  Gov.  Winslow,  to  scour  the  woods  of  some 
of  the  lurking  enemy,  which  they  were  well  in 
formed  were  there.  Which  commission  is  as 
follows. 

Being  well  informed  that  there  are  certain  par 
ties  of  our  Indian  enemies,  remains  of  the  people 
or  allies  of  Philip,  late  Sachem  of  Mount-Hope, 
our .  mortal  enemy,  that  are  still  lurking  in  the 

*  Hubbard,  in  defence  of  this  conduct  of  the  Court  of 
Plymouth,  says  that  Tispaquin  was  to  become  a  Captain 
under  Church,  if  (as  he  pretended  and  made  his  followers 
believe)  he  proved  impenetrable  to  a  ball;  but  he  fell  dead 
the  first  fire,  which  they  thought  a  just  reward  for  his  de 
ception  and  cruelty  while  with  Philip.  The  same  author 
does  not  fail  to  find  excuses  for  every  inhuman  act  on  the 
part  of  the  English.  Nothing  can  justify  this  hasty  meas 
ure  but  cowardice;  for  it  has  too  much  the  appearance  of 
hanging  a  man  after  he  is  dead.  Annawon  was  accused  of 
torturing  and  murdering  the  English,  which  "  he  did  not 
deny;"  therefore,  enough  was  found  against  him,  so  he  was 
immediately  put  to  death. 

The  taking  of  Tispaquin  is  placed  before  that  of  Annawon 
by  Hubbard;  who  must  we  charge  with  a  blunder? 

|  It  is  observable  that  Mr.  Church  is  erroneous  in  his 
mention  of  Gov.  Leverett,  for  by  his  account  above,  "  An 
nawon,  Tispaquin,  &c."  were  put  to  death  about  the  time 
the  Governor  died.  But  they  were  put  to  death  soon  after 
Philip  was  killed,  in  1676,  almost  two  years  before  the 
death  of  the  Governor. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.  119 

woods,  near  some  of  our  plantations,  that  go  on 
to  disturb  the  peace/of  his  Majesty's  subjects  in 
this  and  the  neighbouring  colonies,  by  their  fre 
quent  robberies,  and  other  insolences.  Captain 
Benjamin  Church  is  therefore  hereby  nominated, 
ordered,  commissioned,  and  empowered  to  raise  a 
company  of  volunteers,  consisting  of  English  and 
Indians,  so  many  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  to 
improve  in  the  present  expedition,  and  can  obtain. 
And  of  them  to  take  the  command  and  conduct, 
and  to  lead  them  forth  unto  such  place  or  places 
within  this  or  the  neigbouring  colonies,  as  he 
shall  think  fit,  and  as  the  providence  of  God,  and 
his  intelligence  shall  lead  him;  to  discover,  pur 
sue,  fight,  surprise,  destroy,  and  subdue  our  said 
Indian  enemies,  or  any  party  or  parties  of  them, 
that,  by  the  providence  of  God,  they  may  meet 
with.  Or  them,  or  any  of  them,  to  receive  to 
mercy,  if  he  see  cause;  provided  they  be  not  mur 
derous  rogues,  or  such  as  have  been  principal  ac 
tors  in  those  villanies.  And,  for  the  prosecution 
of  this  design,  liberty  is  hereby  granted  to  the 
said  Capt.  Church,  and  others,  to  arm  and  set 
out  such  of  our  friendly  Indians,  as  he  is  willing 
to  entertain.  And  for  as  much  as  all  these  our 
enemies  that  have  been  taken,  or  at  any  time  may 
be  taken,  by  our  forces,  have,  by  our  Courts  and 
Councils,  been  rendered  lawful  captives  of  war, 
and  condemned  to  perpetual  servitude;  this  Coun 
cil  do  also  determine  and  hereby  declare,  that  all 
such  prisoners,  as,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
the  said  Captain  and  company,  or  any  of  them, 
shall  take,  together  with  their  arms  and  other 
plunder,  shall  be  their  own,  and  be  distributed 
>among  themselves,  according  to  such  agreement 


120  KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 

as  they  may  make  one  with  the  other.  And  it 
shall  be  lawful,  and  is  hereby  warrantable,  for 
him  and  them,  to  make  sale  of  such  prisoners  as 
their  perpetual  slaves;  or  otherwise  to  retain  them 
as  they  think  meet,  (they  being  such  as  the  law 
allows  to  be  kept.)  Finally,  the  said  Capt. 
Church,  herein  improving  his  best  judgment  and 
discretion,  and  utmost  ability,  faithfully  to  serve 
God,  his  Majesty's  interest,  and  the  interest  of 
the  Colony;  and  carefully  governing  his  said  com 
pany  at  home  and  abroad.  These  shall  be  unto 
him  a  full  and  complete  commission,  warrant  and 
discharge.  Given  under  the  public  Seal,  Jan. 
15th,  1676. 

Per  JOSIAH  WINSLOW,  Gov. 

Accordingly  Capt.  Church,  accompanied  with 
several  gentlemen  and  others,  went  out  and  took 
divers  parties  of  Indians,  in  one  of  which  there 
was  a  certain  old  man,  whom  Capt.  Church  seem 
ed  to  take  particular  notice  of,  and  asking  him 
where  he  belonged,  he  told  him  at  Swanzey;  the 
Captain  asked  his  name,  he  replied,  Conscience. 
Conscience,  said  the  Captain  smiling,  then  the 
war  is  over;  for  that  was  what  they  were  search 
ing  for,  it  being  much  wanted;  and  then  returned 
the  said  Conscience  to  his  post  again  at  Swanzey, 
to  a  certain  person  the  said  Indian  desired  to  be 
sold  to,  and  then  returned  home. 


W  AR 

WITH  THE  EASTERN  INDIANS, 

IN    FIVE    EXPEDITIONS, 


4 

In  the  lime  of  Sir  Edmund  Andross'*  govern 
ment,  began  that  bloody  war  in  the  eastern  parts 
of  New-England;  so  that  immediately  Sir  Ed 
mund  sent  an  express  for  Capt.  Church;  who, 
then  being  at  Little  Compton,  received  it  on  a 
Lord's  day  in  the  afternoon  meeting.  Going  home 
after  meeting,  took  his  horse  and  set  out  for  Bos 
ton,  as  ordered;  and  by  sunrise  next  morning  got 
to  Braintree,  where  he  met  with  Col.  Page,  on 
horseback,  going  to  Weymouth  and  Hingham,  to 
raise  forces  to  go  East,  who  said  he  was  glad  to 

*  Andross  came  over  as  Governor  of  New-York,  in  1674. 
Was  appointed  Governor  of  New-England,  and  arrived  in 
Boston,  29th  December,  1686.  He  is  spoken  of  by  all  our 
historians,  as  a  quarrelsome  and  oppressive  man,  possessing 
strong  prejudicies  against  the  people  of  Massachusetts. 
Having  considerable  power,  did  not  fail  to  exert  it.  He 
was  checked,  however,  on  the  accession  of  William  and  Ma 
ry;  at  the  news  of  which  in  Boston,  the  people  in  transports 
of  joy  rose  up  in  arms.  Sir  Edmund  retired  to  the  fort  but 
surrendered  soon  after.  He  was  confined  in  the  fort  for 
some  time.  In  1692,  after  matters  were  settled,  he  was  ap 
pointed  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  arrived  there  in  Februa 
ry.  He  died  in  London,  Feb.  24,  1713. 
11 


122  WAR    WITH     THE 

see  him,  and  that  his  Excellency  would  be  as  glad 
to  see  him  in  Boston  so  early.  So  parting  he 
soon  got  to  Boston  and  waited  upon  his  Excel 
lency.  He  informed  him  of  an-  unhappy  war 
broken  out  in  the  Eastern  parts;  and  said,  he  was 
going  himself  in  person,  and  that  he  wanted  his 
company  with  him.  But  Capt.  Church  not  find 
ing  himself  in  the  same  spirit  he  used  to  have,  said, 
he  hoped  his  Excellency  would  give  him  time  to 
consider  of  it.  He  told  him  he  might;  and  also 
said  that  he  must  come  and  dine  with  him.  Capt. 
Church  having  many  acquaintances  in  Boston, who 
made  it  their  buisness,  some  to  encourage,  and  oth 
ers  to  discourage  him  from  going  with  his  Excel 
lency.  So  after  dinner  his  Excellency  took  him 
into  his  room  and  discoursed  freely;  saying,  that 
he  had  knowledge  of  his  former  actions  and 
successes;  and  that  he  must  go  with  him,  and  be 
his  second,  with  other  encouragements.  But  in 
short,  the  said  Church  did  not  accept;  so  was  dis 
missed  and  wrent  home.  Soon  after  this  was  the 
revolution,  and  the  other  government  reassumed; 
and  then  Gov.  Bradstreet*  sent  for  Capt.  Church 
to  come  to  Boston,  as  soon  as  his  buisness  would 
permit,  whereupon  he  went  to  Boston  and  waited 
upon  his  Honour,  who  told  him  he  was  requested 
by  the  Council  to  send  for  him,  to  see  if  he  could 
be  prevailed  with  to  raise  volunteers  both  English 
and  Indians  to  go  East,  for  the  Eastward  Indians 
had  done  great  spoil  upon  the  English  in  those 
parts;  giving  him  an  account  of  the  miseries  and 

*  "  One  of  the  Fathers  of  Massachusetts;"  yet  he  did  not. 
pass  without  sensure  and  difficulty,  but  he  passed  on  calmly 
in  his  duty,  and  was  a  worthy  example  of  rectitude.  He 
at  Salem,  27th  March,  1697,  aged  95  years. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  123 

sufferings  of  the  people  there.  Capt.  Church's 
spirits  being  affected,  said,  if  he  could  do  any  ser 
vice  for  his  Honour,  the  country,  and  their  relief, 
he  was  ready  and  willing.  He  was  asked  how  he 
would  act?  He  said  he  would  take  with  him  as 
many  of  his  old  soldiers  as  he  could  get,  both 
English  and  Indians,  &,c.  The  gentlemen  of 
Boston  requested  him  to  go  to  Rhode-Island  Gov 
ernment  to  ask  their  assistance.  80  giving  him 
their  letter,  and  about  forty  shillings  in  money,  he 
took  leave,  and  went  home  to  Bristol  on  a  Satur 
day,  and  the  next  Monday  morning  he  went  over 
to  Rhode-Island,  and  waited  upon  their  Governor, 
delivering  the  letter  as  ordered;  prayed  his  Hon 
our  for  a  speedy  answer.  Who  said,  they  could 
not  give  an  answer  presently;  so  he  waited  on 
them  till  he  had  their  answer;  and  when  he  had 
obtained  it,  he  carried  it  to  Boston  gentlemen, 
who  desired  him  to  raise  what  volunteers  he  could 
in  Plymouth  colony,  and  Rhode-Island  Govern 
ment,  and  what  was  wanting  they  would  make  up 
out  of  theirs,  that  were  already  out  in  the  Eastern 
parts.  The  summer  being  far  spent,  Capt.  Church 
made  what  despatch  he  could,  and  raised  about 
250  volunteers,  and  received  his  commission  from 
Gov.  Hinkley,  which  is  as  followeth,  viz. 

"  The  Council  of  War  of  their  Majesties9  Colony 
of  New-Plymouth,  in  New-England;  to  Maj. 
Benjamin  Church,  Commander  in  Chief. 

"  WHEREAS  the  Kennebeck  and  Eastern  In 
dians  with  their  confederates,  have  openly  made 
war  upon  their  Majesties'  subjects  of  the  prov 
inces  of  Maine,  New-Hampshire,  and  of  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Colony;  having  committed  many  bar- 


124  WAR    WITH    THE 

barons  murders,  spoils  and  rapines  upon  their  per 
sons  and  estates.     And  whereas  there  are  some 
forces  of  soldiers,  English  and  Indians,  now  raised 
and    detached  out  of  the  several  regiments  and 
places  within  this  Colony  of  New-Plymouth,  to 
go  forth  to  the  assistance  of  our  neighbours  and 
friends,  of  the  aforesaid  provinces  and  colony  of 
the  Massachusetts,  subjects  of  one  and  the  same 
crown;  and  to  join  with  their  forces  for  the  repel 
ling  and  destruction  of  the  common  enemy.     And 
whereas  you,  Benjamin  Church,  are  appointed  to 
be  Major   and  Commander  in  Chief,  of  all  the 
forces,  English  and  Indians,  detached  within  this 
colony,  for  the  service  of  their  Majesties  aforesaid, 
these  are  in  their  Majesties'  name  to  authorize  and 
require  you,  to  take  into  your  care  and  conduct, 
all  the  said  forces,  English  and  Indians,  and  dili 
gently  to  attend  that  service,  by  the  leading  and 
exercising  of  your  inferiour  officers  and  soldiers, 
Commanding  them  to  obey  you  as  their  chief  com 
mander;  and  to  pursue,  fight,  take,  kill,  or  destroy 
the  said  enemies,  their  aiders  and  abettors,  by  all 
the  ways  and  means  you  can,  as  you  shall  have 
opportunity.     And  you  are  to  observe  and  obey 
ail  such  orders  and  instructions,  as  from  time  to 
time  you  shall  receive  from  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Colonies,  the  Council  of  War  of  this  Colony, 
or  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Massachusetts 
Colony.     In  testimony  whereof  the  public  seal  of 
the  said  Colony  of  New-Plymouth,   is  hereunto 
affixed.     Dated  in  Plymouth,  the  sixth  day  of  Sep 
tember,  Anno  Domini   1689.       Jlnnoque  regni 
'Regis  ct  Regince  Willielmi  et  Marioe  Jlii 
4r    Primo. 

THOMAS  HINKLEY,  Pres" 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  125 

And  now  marching  them  all  down  to  Boston, 
then  received  his  further  orders  and  instructions, 
which  were  as  folio weth. 

« Boston,  Sept.  16,  1689. 
"  To  all  Sheriffs,  Marshalls,  Constables,  and  oth 
er  Officers  military  and  civil,  in  their  Majesties' 
province  of  Maine. 

"WHEREAS,  pursuant  to  an  agreement  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  Major 
Benjamin  Church  is  commissioned  Commander 
in  Chief  over  that  part  of  their  Majesties'  forces, 
levied  for  the  present  expedition  against  the  com 
mon  enemy,  whose  head  quarters  are  appointed  to 
be  at  Falmouth,  in  Casco  Bay.  In  their  Majes 
ties'  names,  you,  and  every  of  you  are  required  to 
be  aiding  and  assisting  to  the  said  Major  Church 
in  his  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  as  any  emergency 
shall  require;  and  so  impress  boats,  or  other  ves 
sels,  carts,  carriages,  horses,  oxen,  provision  and 
ammunition,  and  men  for  guides,  &,c.  as  you  shall 
receive  warrants  from  the  said  Chief  Commander, 
or  his  Lieutenant  so  to  do.  You  may  not  fail  to 
do  the  same  speedily  and  effectually,  as  you  will 
answer  your  neglect  and  contempt  of  their  Majes-^ 
lies'  authority  and  service,  at  your  uttermost  peril. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  the  day  and  year 
above  written.  Jinnoque  Regni  Regis  et  Regi- 
nee  Willielmi  and  Mario3  Pri/no. 

"By  THOMAS  DANFORTH, 
Pres.  of  the  province  o 
11* 


126  WAR    WITH    THE 

By  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Massachu 
setts  Colony.     To  Major  Benjamin  Church. 

"WHEREAS,  you  are  appointed  and  commis 
sioned  by  the  Council  of  War,  of  the  colony  of 
New-Plymouth,  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  forces 
raised  within  the  said  colony,  against  the  com 
mon  Indian  enemy,  now  ordered  into  the  Eastern 
parts,  to  join  with  some  of  the  forces  of  this  colo 
ny;  for  the  prosecution,  repelling  and  subduing  of 
the  said  enemy.  It  is  therefore  ordered  that 
Capt.  Simon  Willard,  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hall, 
with  the  two  companies  of  soldiers  under  their  sev 
eral  command,  belonging  to  this  colony,  now  in 
or  about  Casco  Bay,  be,  and  are  hereby  put  under 
you,  as  their  Commander  in  Chief  for  this  pres 
ent  expedition.  And  in  pursuance  of  the  com 
missions  severally  given  to  either  of  them,  they 
are  ordered  to  observe  and  obey  your  orders  and 
directions,  as  their  Commander  in  Chief,  until 
further  order  from  the  Governor  and  Council,  or 
the  Commissioners  of  the  colonies.  Dated  in 
Boston,  September  17,  Anno  Domini  1689. 
.Innoque  Regni  Regis  et  Regince  Guilielmi  ct 
.Mar ice,  Jlnglw,  fyc.  Primo. 

«S.  BRADSTREET,  Gov. 
"  Passed  in  Council, 
fittest.    ISAAC  ADDINGTON,  Sec'ry." 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  V 

By  the  Commissioners  of  the  colonies  of  the  Mas 
sachusetts,  Plymouth  and  Connecticut,  for 
managing  the  present  war  against  the  common 
enemy. 

"  Instructions  for  Major  Benjamin  Church,  Com 
mander  in  Chief  of  the  Plymouth  forces,  with 
others  of  the  Massachusetts,  put  under  his  com 
mand. 

"  IN  pursuance  of  the  commission  given  you, 
for  their  Majesties9  service  in  the  present  expedi 
tion  against  the  common  Indian  enemy,  their  aid 
ers    and   abettors;   reposing    confidence    in  your 
wisdom,  prudence  and  fidelity  in  the  trust  com 
mitted  to  you,  for  the  honour  of  God,  good  of  his 
people,  and  the  security  of  the  interest  of  Christ 
and  his  churches,  expecting  and  praying  that  in 
your  dependence  upon  him,  you  may  be  helped 
and  assisted  with  all  that  grace  and  wisdom  which 
is  requisite  for  carrying  you  on  with  success  in 
this  difficult  service;  and  though  much  is  and  must 
be  left  to  your  discretion,  as  Providence  and  op 
portunity  may  present  from  time  to  time  in  places 
of  attendance;  yet,  the  following  instructions  are 
commended  unto  your  observation,  and  to  be  at 
tended  to  so  far  as  the  state  of  matters  with  you 
in  such  a  transaction  will  admit.     You  are  with 
oil  possible  speed  to  take  care  that  the  Plymouth 
forces,  both  English  and  Indians,  under  your  com 
mand,  be  fixed  and  ready,  and  the  first  opportuni 
ty  of  wind  and  weather,  to  go  on  board  such  ves 
sels  as  are  provided  to  transport  you  and  them  to 
Casco,  where,  if  it  shall  please  God  you  arrive,  you 
are  to  take  under  your  care  and  command  the  com 
panies  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hall,  and  Capt.  Simon 


128  WAR    WITH    THE 

Willard,  who  are  ordered  to  attend  your  com 
mand,  whom,  together  with  the  Plymouth  forces, 
and  such  as  from  time  to  time  may  be  added  unto 
you,  you  are  to  improve  in  such  way  as  you  shall 
see  meet;  for  the  discovering,  pursuing,  and  subdu 
ing  and  destroying  the  said  common  enemy,  by  all 
opportunities  you  are  capable  of ;  always  intend 
ing  the  preserving  of  any  of  the  near  towns  from 
incursions,  and  destruction  of  the  enemy,  yet  chiefly 
improving  your  men  for  the  finding  and  following 
the  said  enemy  abroad,  and  if  possible  to  find  out 
and  attack  their  head  quarters  and  principal  ren 
dezvous,  if  you  find  you  are  in  a  rational  capaci 
ty  of  so  doing.  The  better  to  enable  you  there* 
to,  we  have  ordered  two  men  of  war  sloops,  and 
other  small  vessels  for  transportation  to  attend  you, 
for  some  consiberable  time.  You  are  to  see  that 
your  soldiers'  arms  be  always  fixed,  and  that  they 
be  furnished  with  ammunition,  provisions  and  oth 
er  necessaries,  that  so  they  may  be  in  a  readiness 
to  repel  and  attack  the  enemy.  In  your  pursuit 
you  are  to  take  special  care  to  avoid  danger  by 
ambushments,  or  being  drawn  under  any  disad 
vantage  by  the  enemy  in  your  marches,  keeping 
out  scouts  and  a  forlorn  hope  before  your  main 
body,  and  by  all  possible  means  endeavouring  to 
surprise  some  of  the  enemy,  that  so  you  may  gain 
intelligence.  You  are  to  suppress  all  mutinies 
and  disorders  among  your  soldiers,  as  much  as  in 
you  lies,  and  to  punish  such  as  disobey  your  offi 
cers,  according  to  the  rules  of  war  herewith  given 
you. 

"  You  are,  according  to  your  opportunity,  or 
any  occasion,  more  than  ordinary  occurring,  to 
hold  correspondence  with  Major  Swaine,  and  to 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 

yield  mutual  assistance  when,  as  you  are  capable 
of  it,  and  you  may  have  reason  to  judge  it  will  be 
of  most  public  service;  and  it  will  be  meet  you 
and  he  should  agree  of  some  signal  whereby  your 
Indians  may  be  known  from  the  enemy.  You  are 
to  encourage  your  soldiers  to  be  industrious,  vig 
orous,  and  venturous  in  their  service,  to  search 
and  destroy  the  enemy,  acquainting  them,  it  is 
agreed  by  the  several  colonies,  that  they  shall 
have  the  benefit  of  the  captives,  and  all  lawful 
plunder,  and  the  reward  of  eight  pounds  per  head, 
for  every  fighting  Indian  man  slain  by  them,  over 
and  above  their  stated  wages;  the  same  being 
made  appear  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  or  such 
as  shall  be  appointed  to  take  care  therein.  If 
your  Commission  Officers,  or  any  of  them  should 
be  slain,  or  otherwise  uncapable  of  service,  and 
for  such  dismissed,  you  are  to  appoint  others  in 
their  room,  who  shall  have  the  like  wages,  and  a 
commission  sent  upon  notice  given,  you  to  give 
them  commissions  in  the  mean  time.  You  are  to 
take  effectual  care  that  the  worship  of  God  be 
kept  up  in  the  army,  morning  and  evening  prayer 
attended  as  far  as  may  be,  and  as  the  emergen 
cies  of  your  affairs  will  admit,  to  see  that  the  Holy 
Sabbath  be  duly  sanctified.  You  are  to  take  care  as 
much  as  may  be,  to  prevent  or  punish  drunkenness, 
swearing,  cursing,  or  such  other  sins,  as  do  pro 
voke  the  anger  of  God.  You  are  to  advise  with 
your  chief  Officers  in  any  matters  of  moment,  as 
you  shall  have  opportunity.  You  are  from  time 
to  time  to  give  intelligence  and  advice  to  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council  of  the  Massachusetts  or  Com 
missioners  of  the  colonies,  of  your  proceedings 
and  occurrences  that  may  happen,  and  how  it  shall 


130  WAR    WITH    THE 

please  the  Lord  to  deal  with  you  in  this  present 
expedition. 

"  If  you  find  the  vessels  are  not  likely  to  be 
serviceable  to  you,  dismiss  them  as  soon  as  you 
may. 

'^Captain  Sylvanus  Davis*  is  a  prudent  man, 
and  well  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  those  parts, 
and  is  written  unto  to  advise  and  inform  you  all  he 
can. 

"  Such  further  instructions  as  we  shall  see  rea 
son  to  send  unto  you,  you  are  carefully  to  attend 
and  observe,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  Commis 
sioners,  you  shall  observe  the  orders  and  instruc 
tions  directed  unto  you  from  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  the  Massachusetts. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  in  Boston,  Sept.  18, 
1689." 

THOMAS  DANFORTH,  Pres. 
ELISHA  COOK, 
SAMUEL  MASON, 
WILLIAM  PITKIN, 
THOMAS  HINKLEY, 
JOHN  WALLEY. 

*  This  is  the  Captain  Davis,  who,  in  the  year  1676,  made 
his  escape  so  narrowly  with  his  life  from  the  fort  at  Arrow- 
sick  island.  The  Indians  in  the  night  had  concealed  them 
selves  under  the  walls  of  the  fort,  and  at  day-light,  as  the 
sentinel  retired  from  the  gate,  they  rushed  in  and  fired  on 
every  one  they  saw.  Captain  Davis  with  Captain  Lake 
escaped  out  of  the  back  door  of  *a  house,  ran  down  to  the 
water  and  crossed  over.  Capt.  Lake  was  shot  down  as 
he  landed,  and  Captain  Davis  escaped  with  a  wound.  He 
was  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Massachusetts. 
In  and  about  the  fort  52  persons  were  killed  and  taken. 

HUTCHINSON. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  131 

FIRST  EXPEDITION  EAST. 

BEING  ready,  Major  Church  embarked  with 
his  forces  on  board  the  vessels  provided  to  trans 
port  them  to  Casco,  having  a  brave  gale  at  S.  W. 
and  on  Friday  about  three  o'clock  they  got  in 
sight  of  Casco  harbour;  and  discovering  two  or 
three  small  ships  there,  not  knowing  whether  they 
were  friends  or  enemies;  whereupon  the  said  Com 
mander,  Major  Church,  gave  orders  for  every 
man  that  was  able  to  make  ready,  and  all  lie 
close,  giving  orders  how  they  should  act  in  case 
they  were  enemies.  He,  in  the  Mary  sloop,  to 
gether  with  the  Resolution,  went  in  first,  being 
both  well  fitted  with  guns  and  men.  On  coming 
to  the  first,  he  hailed  them,  who  said  they  were 
friends,  and  presently  manned  their  boat,  brought 
to,  and  so  came  along  side  of  them.  They  gave 
the  said  Church  an  account,  that  yesterday  there 
were  a  very  great  army  of  Indians  and  French 
with  them,  upon  the  island,  at  the  going  out  of 
the  harbour;  and  that  they  were  come  on  pur 
pose  to  take  Casco  fort  and  town;  likewise  in 
formed  him  that  they  had  got  a  captive  woman  on 
board,  Major  Walden's  daughter,  of  Piscataqua,* 
that  could  give  him  a  full  account  of  their  number 
and  intentions.  He  bid  them  give  his  service  to 
their  Captain,  and  tell  him  he  would  wait  upon 
him  after  he  had  been  on  shore,  and  given  some 
orders  and  directions.  Being  come  pretty  near, 
he  ordered  all  the  men  still  to  keep  close,  giving 

*  A   considerable   river  in  New-Hampshire,    on  which 
stands  Portsmouth,  the  largest  town  in  the  state. 


132  WAR    WITH    THE 

account  of  the   news  he  had  received,  and   then 
went  ashore.     Several  of  the  chief  men  of  the 
town  came  out  to  meet  him,  being  glad  that  he 
had  come  so  happily  to  their  relief.       They  told 
him  the  news  which  Mrs.  Lee  had  before,  being 
the  woman  aforesaid.     He  went  to  Captain  Da- 
vis's,  to  get  some  refreshment,   not  having  eaten 
a  morsel  since  he  came  by  Boston  castle.      Now 
having  inquired  into  the  state  of  the  town,  found 
them  in   a  poor  condition  to  defend  themselves 
against  such  a  number  of  enemies.     He  gave  them 
an  account  of  his  orders  and  instructions,  and  told 
them  what  forces  he  had  brought,  and  that  when 
it  was  dark  they  should  all  land,  and  not  before, 
lest  the  enemy  should  discover  them.      And  then 
he    went  on  board  the  privateer,   which  was  a 
Dutchman;  but  as  he  went  he    called  on  board 
every  vessel,  and  ordered  the  officers  to  take  care 
that  their  men  might  be  all  fitted  and  provided  to 
fight,  for  the  people  of  the  town  expected  the  en 
emy  to  fall  upon  them  every  minute,  but  withal, 
charging  them  to  keep  undiscovered.     Then  com 
ing  on  board  said  privateer,  he  was  kindly  treat 
ed,  discoursed  with  Mrs.  Lee,  who  informed  him 
that  the  company  she  came  writh  had  fourscore  ca 
noes,  and  that  there  were  more  of  them,  whom 
she  had  not  seen,  which  came  from  other  places; 
and  that  they  told  her,   when  they  came   all  to 
gether,  should  make  up  700  men.     He  asked  her 
whether  Casteen*  was  with  them?  She  answered 
that  there  were  several  French  men  with  them, 
but  did  not  know  whether  Casteen  was  there  or 

*  Castine.  A  French  Baron,  who  lived  among  the  Indians 
at  Penobscot.  He  supplied  the  Indians  with  articles  for 
the  war. — HUTCHINSOAT. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  133 

not.  He  having  got  what  intelligence  she  could 
give  him,  went  ashore,  viewed  the  fort  and  town, 
and  discoursed  with  the  gentlemen  there  according 
to  his  instructions.  And  when  it  began  to  grow 
dark,  he  ordered  the  vessels  to  come  as  near  the 
fort  as  might  be,  and  land  the  soldiers  with  as  lit 
tle  noise  as  possible;  ordering  them  as  they  land 
ed  to  go  into  the  fort,  and  houses  that  stood  near; 
that  so  they  might  be  ready  upon  occasion.  Hav 
ing  ordered  provisions  for  them,  he  went  to  every 
company,  and  ordered  them  to  get  every  thing 
ready;  they  that  had  no  powder-horns,  or  shot- 
bags,  should  immediately  make  them;  ordered  the 
officers  to  take  special  care  that  they  were  ready 
to  march  into  the  woods  an  hour  before  day;  and 
also,  directing  the  watch  to  call  him  two  hours 
before  day;  so  he  hastened  to  bed  to  get  some 
rest. 

At  the  time  prefixed  he  was  called,  and  pres 
ently  ordered  the  companies  to  make  ready,  and 
about  half  an  hour  before  day  they  moved.  Sev 
eral  of  the  town's  people  went  with  them  into  a 
thick  place  of  brush,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
town.  Now  ordering  them  to  send  out  their 
scouts,  as  they  used  to  do,  and  seeing  them  all 
settled  at  their  work,  he  went  into  town  by  sun 
rise  again,  and  desired  the  inhabitants  to  take  care 
of  themselves,  till  his  men  had  fitted  themselves 
with  some  necessaries,  for  his  Indians,  most  of 
them,  wanted  both  bags  and  horns;  so  he  ordered 
them  to  make  bags  like  wallets,  to  put  powder  in. 
one  end,  and  shot  in  the  other.  So  most  of  them 
were  ready  for  action,  viz.  the  Seconet  Indians; 
but  the  Cape  Indians  wrere  very  bare,  lying  so 
long  at  Boston  before  they  embarked,  that  they 
12 


134  WAR    WITH    THE 

had  sold  every  thing  they  could  make  a  penny  of, 
some  tying  shot  and  powder  in  the  corners  of  their 
blankets.  He  being  in  town,  just  going  to  break 
fast,  there  was  an  alarm;  so  he  ordered  all  the  sol 
diers  in  town  to  move  away  as  fast  as  they  could, 
where  the  firing  was.  And  he,  with  what  men 
were  with  him  of  his  soldiers,  moved  immediately. 
They  met  with  Capt.  Bracket's  sons,  who  told 
him  their  father  was  taken,  and  that  they  saw  a 
great  army  of  Indians  in  their  father's  orchard,  &LC. 
By  this  time  our  Indians  that  wanted  bags  and 
horns  were  fitted,  but  wanted  more  ammunition. 
Presently  came  a  messenger  to  him  from  the  town 
and  informed  him,  that  they  had  knocked  out  the 
heads  of  several  casks  of  bullets,  and  they  were  all 
too  big  being  musket  bullets,  and  would  not  fit 
their  guns;  and  that  if  he  did  not  go  back  himself 
a  great  part  of  the  army  would  be  kept  back  from 
service  for  want  of  suitable  bullets. 

He  ran  back  and  ordered  every  vessel  to  send 
ashore  all  their  casks  of  bullets;  being  brought 
knocked  out  their  heads,  and  turned  them  all  out 
upon  the  green,  by  the  fort,  and  set  all  the  people 
in  the  town,  that  were  able,  to  make  slugs;  being 
most  of  them  too  large  for  their  use,  which  had 
like  to  have  been  the  overthrow  of  their  whole 
army.  He  finding  some  small  bullets,  and  what 
slugs  were  made,  and  three  knapsacks  of  powder, 
went  immediately  to  the  army,  who  were  very  hotly 
engaged;  but  coming  to  the  river  the  tide  was  up; 
he  called  to  his  men  that  were  engaged,  en 
couraging  them,  and  told  them  he  had  brought 
more  ammunition  for  them.  An  Indian  called 
Capt.  Lightfoot,  laid  down  his  gun,  and  came 
over  the  river,  taking  the  powder  upon  his  head, 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  135 

and  a  kettle  of  bullets  in  each  hand,  and  got  safe 
to  his  fellow  soldiers.  He  perceiving  great  firing 
upon  that  side  he  was  on,  went  to  see  who  they 
were,  and  found  them  to  be  two  of  Major  Church's 
companies,  one  of  English  and  the  other  of  Indians, 
being  in  all  about  four  score  men,  that  had  not  got 
over  the  river,  but  lay  firing  over  our  men's  heads 
at  the  enemy.  He  presently  ordered  them  to 
rally,  and  come  all  together;  and  gave  the  word 
for  a  Casco  man;  so  one  Swarton,  a  Jersey  man, 
appearing,  whom  he  could  hardly  understand;  he 
asked  him  how  far  it  was  to  the  head  of  the  river, 
or  whether  there  was  any  place  to  get  over?  He 
said  there  was  a  bridge  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  up,  where  they  might  get  over.  So  he  call 
ing  to  his  soldiers  engaged  on  the  other  side,  that 
he  would  soon  be  with  them  over  the  bridge,  and 
come  upon  the  backs  of  the  enemy,  which  put  new 
courage  into  them.  So  they  immediately  moved 
up  towards  the  bridge,  marching  very  thin,  being 
willing  to  make  what  show  they  could,  and  shout 
ing  as  they  marched.  They  saw  the  enemy  running 
from  the  river- side,  where  they  had  made  stands 
with  wood  to  prevent  any  body  from  coming  over 
the  river;  and  coming  to  the  bridge,  they  saw  on 
the  other  side,  that  the  enemy  had  laid  logs,  and 
stuck  birch  brush  along  to  hide  themselves  from 
our  view. 

He, ordered  the  company  to  come  altogether, 
bidding  them  all  to  run  after  him,  that  would  go 
first,  and  that  as  soon  as  they  got  over  the  bridge 
to  scatter,  that  so  they  might  not  be  all  shot  down 
together;  expecting  the  enemy  to  be  at  their  stands. 
So  running  up  to  the  stands,  found  none  there, 
but  were  just  gone,  the  ground  being  much  turn- 


136 


WAR    WITH    THE 


bled  with  them  behind  the  said  stands.  He  or 
dered  the  Captain  with  his  company  of  English  to 
march  down  to  our  men  engaged,  and  that  they 
should  keep  along  upon  the  edge  of  the  marsh, 
and  himself  with  his  Indian  soldiers  would  march 
down  through  the  brush.  And  coming  to  a  parcel 
of  low  ground,  which  had  been  formerly  burnt, 
the  old  brush  being  fallen  down,  lay  very  thick, 
and  the  young  brush  being  grown  up,  made  it  bad 
travelling;  but  coming  near  the  back  of  the  enemy, 
one  of  the  men  called  to  the  commander,  and  said 
that  the  enemy  run  westward  to  get  between  us 
and  the  bridge,  and  he  looking  that  way  saw 
men  running,  and  making  a  small  stop,  heard  no 
firing,  but  a  great  choping  with  hatchets.  So  con 
cluding  the  fight  was  over,  made  the  best  of  their 
way  to  the  bridge  again,  lest  the  enemy  should 
get  over  the  bridge  into  the  town.  The  men 
being  most  of  them  out,  our  ammunition  lay  ex 
posed,  coming  to  the  bridge,  where  he  left  six 
Indians  for  an  ambuscade  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  that  if  any  enemy  offered  to  come  over,  they 
should  fire  at  them,  which  would  give  him  notice, 
so  he  would  come  to  their  assistance.  But  in  the 
way,  having  heard  no  firing  nor  shouting,  conclud 
ed  the  enemy  were  drawn  off.  He  asked  the 
ambuscade,  whether  they  saw  any  Indians?  They 
said  yes,  abundance.  He  asked  them  where? 
They  answered,  that  they  ran  over  the  head  of  the 
river  by  the  cedar  swamp,  and  were  running  into 
the  neck  towards  the  town. 

There  being  but  one  Englishman  with  him,  he 
bid  his  Indian  soldiers  scatter  and  run  very  thin, 
to  preserve  themselves,  and  be  the  better  able  to 
make  a  discovery  of  the  enemy.  And  soon  coin- 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 


137 


ing  to  Lieut.  Clark's  field,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  neck,  and  seeing  the  cattle  feeding  quietly, 
and  perceiving  no  track,  concluded  the  ambuscade 
had  told  them  a  falsehood.     They  hastily  returned 
back  to  the  said  bridge,  perceiving  there  was  no 
noise  of  the  enemy.     He  hearing  several  great 
guns  at  the  town,  concluded  that  they  were  either 
assaulted,  or  that  they  had  discovered  the  enemy; 
having  ordered  that  in  case  such  should  be,  that 
they  should  fire  some  of  their  great  guns,  to  give 
him  notice.     He  being  a  stranger  to  the  country, 
concluded  the  enemy  had  by  some  other  way  got 
to  the  town;  whereupon  he  sent  his  men  to  the 
town,  and  himself  going  to  the  river,  near  where 
the  fight  had  been,  asked  them  how  they  did,  and 
what  was  become  of  the   enemy?  who  informed 
him  that  the  enemy  drew  off  in  less  than  an  hour 
after  he  left  them,  and  had  not  fired  a  gun  at  them 
since.     He  told  them  he  had  been  within  little 
more  than  a  gun  shot  of  the  back  of  the  enemy, 
and  had  been  upon  them  had  it  not  been  for  thick 
brushy  ground,  &c.     Now  some  of  his  men  re 
turning  from  the  town,  gave  him  the  account,  that 
they  went  while  they  saw  the  colours  standing, 
and  men  walking   about  as  not  molested.     He 
presently  ordered  that  all  his  army  should  pursue 
the  enemy;  but  they  told  him  that  most  of  them 
had  spent  their  ammunition,  and  that  if  the  enemy 
had  engaged  them  a  little  longer  they  might  have 
come  and  knocked  them  on  the  head;  and  that 
some  of  their  bullets  were  so  unsizable  that  some 
of  them  were  forced  to  make  slugs  while  they 
were   engaged.     He   then  ordered  them  to  get 
over  all  the  wounded  and  dead  men,  and  to  leave 
none  behind;  which  was  done.     Capt.  Hall  and 
12* 


138  WAR    WITH    THE 

his  men  being  first  engaged  did  great  service,  and 
suffered  the  greatest  loss;  but  Capt.  Southworth 
with  his  company,  and  Capt.  Numposh  with  the 
Seconet  Indians,  and  the  most  of  the  men  belong 
ing  to  the  town,  all  coming  suddenly  to  his  relief, 
prevented  him  and  his  whole  company  from  being 
cut  off. 

By  this  time  the  day  was  far  spent,  and  march 
ing  into  town  about  sunset,  carried  in  all  their 
wounded  and  dead  men,  being  all  sensible  of  God's 
goodness  to  them,  in  giving  them  the  victory,  and 
causing  the  enemy  to  fly  with  shame,  who  never 
gave  one  shout  at  their  drawing  off.  The  poor 
inhabitants  wonderfully  rejoiced  that  the  Almighty 
had  favoured  them  so  much;  saying,  that  if  Maj. 
Church,  with  his  forces,  had  not  come  at  that 
juncture,  they  had  been  all  cut  off;  and  said  fur 
ther,  that  it  was  the  first  time  that  the  Eastward 
Indians  had  been-  put  to  flight,  and  the  said  Church 
with  his  volunteers  were  wonderfully  preserved, 
Laving  never  a  man  killed  outright,  and  but  one 
Indian  mortally  wounded,  several  more  being  badly 
wounded,  but  recovered. 

After  this  engagement,  Maj.  Church,  with  his 
forces,  ranging  all  the  country  thereabout,  in  pur- 
v.fjit  of  the  enemy;  and  visiting  all  the  garrisons  at 
Black-Point,  Spurwink,  and  Blue-Point,  and 
went  up  Iveimebeck  river,  but  to  little  effect. 
And  now  winter  drawing  near,  he  received  orders 
from  the  Government  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
to  settle  ail  the  garrisons,  and  put  in  suitable  offi 
cers  according  to  his  best  discretion,  and  to  send 
home  all  his  soldiers,  volunteers  and  transports; 
which  orders  he  presently  obeyed.  Being  obliged 
to  buy  him  a  horse  to  go  home  by  land,  that  so  he 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  139 

might  the  better  comply  with  his  orders.  The 
poor  people,  the  inhabitants  of  Casco,  and  places 
adjacent,  when  they  saw  he  was  going  away  from 
them,  lamented  sadly,  and  begged  earnestly  that 
he  would  suffer  them  to  come  away  in  the  trans 
ports;  saying  that,  if  he  left  them  there,  in  the 
spring  of  the  year,  the  enemy  would  come  and  des 
troy  them,  and  their  families.  So  by  their  earnest 
request  the  said  Maj.  Church  promised  them,  that 
if  the  governments  that  had  now  sent  him,  would 
send  him  the  next  spring,  he  would  certainly 
come  with  his  volunteers  and  Indians  to  their  relief. 
And  that  as  soon  as  he  had  been  home,  and  taken 
a  little  care  of  his  own  buisness,  he  would  cer 
tainly  wait  upon  the  gentlemen  of  Boston,  and  in 
form  them  of  the  premise  he  had  made  to  them; 
and  if  they  did  not  see  cause  to  send  them  relief, 
to  entreat  their  honours  seasonably  to  draw  them 
off,  that  they  might  not  be  a  prey  to  the  barbarous 
enemy. 

Taking  his  leave  of  those  poor  inhabitants,  some 
of  the  chief  men  there  waited  upon  him  to  Black- 
Point,  to  Capt.  Scottaway's  garrison.  Coming 
there,  they  prevailed  with  the  said  Capt.  Scotta- 
way,  to  go  with  him  to  Boston,  provided  the  said 
Church  would  put  another  in,  to  command  the 
garrison;  which  being  done,  and  taking  their  leave 
one  of  another,  they  set  out  and  travelled  through 
all  the  country,  home  to  Boston.  Having  em 
ployed  himself  to  the  utmost,  to  fulfil  his  instruc 
tions  last  received  from  Boston  gentlemen,  which 
cost  him  about  a  month's  service  over  and  above 
what  he  had  pay  for,  from  the  Plymouth  gentle 
men.  And  in  his  travel  homeward,  several  gen 
tlemen  waited  upon  the  said  Maj.  Church,  who 


110  WAR    WITH    THE 

was  obliged  to  bear  their  expenses.  When  he 
came  to  Boston  gentlemen,  he  informed  them  of 
the  miseries  which  those  poor  people  were  in  by 
having  their  provisions  taken  from  them  by  order 
of  the  President,  &LC.  then  went  home.  He 
staid  not  long  there  before  he  returned  to  Boston, 
where  Capt.  Scottaway  waited  for  his  coming, 
that  he  might  have  the  determination  of  the  gov 
ernment  of  Boston,  to  carry  home  with  him.  It 
being  the  time  of  the  small-pox  there,  and  Maj. 
Church  not  having  had  it,  taking  up  his  lodging 
near  the  Court- House,  took  the  first  opportunity 
to  inform  the  Court  of  his  buisness.  They  said 
they  were  very  busy  in  sending  home  Sir  Edmund,* 
the  ship  being  ready  to  sail.  Maj.  Church  still 
waiting  upon  them,  and  at  every  opportunity  en 
treating  those  gentlemen  in  behalf  of  the  poor  peo 
ple  of  Casco,  urging  the  necessity  of  taking  care 
of  them,  either  by  sending  them  relief  early  in  the 
spring,  or  suffering  them  to  draw  off,  otherwise 
they  would  certainly  be  destroyed.  Their  answer 
was,  they  could  do  nothing  till  Sir  Edmund  was 
gone.  Waiting  there  three  weeks  on  great  ex 
pense,  he  concluded  to  draw  up  some  of  the  cir 
cumstances  of  Casco,  and  places  adjacent,  and  to 
leave  it  upon  the  Council  Board,  before  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council.  Having  got  it  done,  he  ob 
tained  liberty  to  go  up  where  the  Governor  and 
Council  were  sitting,  and  informed  their  honours, 
that  he  had  waited  till  his  patience  was  worn  out, 
so  had  drawn  up  the  matter,  to  leave  upon  the 
Board  before  them.  Which  is  as  follows. 

*  Sir  Edmund  Andros. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  141 

*:c  To  the  honoured  Governor  and  Council  of  the 
Massachusetts. 

"  GENTLEMEN, 

"  Whereas  by  virtue  of  yours,  with  Plym 
outh's  desires  and  commands,  I  went  Eastward  in 
the  last  expedition  against  the  common  Indian 
enemy,  where  Providence  so  ordered  that  we  at 
tacked  their  greatest  body  of  forces,  coming  then 
for  the  destruction  of  Falmouth,  which  we  know 
marched  off  repulsed  with  considerable  damage, 
Jeaving  the  ground,  and  have  never  since  been 
seen  there,  or  in  any  place  adjacent.  The  time 
of  the  year  being  then  too  late  to  prosecute  any 
further  design,  and  other  accidents  falling  out 
contrary  to  my  expectation,  impeded  the  desired 
success.  Upon  my  then  removal  from  the  prov 
ince  of  Maine,  the  inhabitants  were  very  solicit 
ous  that  this  enemy  might  be  further  prosecuted, 
willing  to  venture  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  the 
said  enterprise,  wherein  they  might  serve  God, 
their  King,  and  country,  and  enjoy  quiet  and 
peaceable  habitations.  Upon  which  I  promised 
to  signify  the  same  to  yourselves,  and  willing  to 
venture  that  little  which  Providence  hath  betrust- 
ed  me  with,  on  the  said  account.  The  season  of 
the  year  being  such,  if  some  speedy  action  be  not 
performed  in  attacking  them,  they  will  certainly 
be  upon  us  in  our  out-towns,  God  knows  where, 
and  the  inhabitants  there,  not  being  able  to  defend 
themselves,  without  doubt  many  souls  will  be  cut 
off,  as  our  last  year's  experience  wofully  hath  de 
clared.  The  inhabitants  there  trust  to  your  pro 
tection,  having  undertaken  government  and  your 
propriety;  if  nothing  be  performed  on  the  said  ac- 


142  WAR    WITH    THE 

count,  the  best  way,  under  correction,  is  to  demol 
ish  the  garrison,  and  draw  off  the  inhabitants,  that 
they  may  not  be  left  to  a  merciless  enemy;  and 
that  the  arms  and  ammunition  may  not  be  there 
for  the  strengthening  of  the  enemy,  who  without 
doubt  have  need  enough,  having  exhausted  their 
greatest  store  in  this  winter  season.  I  have  per 
formed  my  promise  to  them,  and  acquitted  myself 
in  specifying  the  same  to  yourselves.  Not  that  I 
desire  to  be  in  any  action,  although  willing  to 
serve  my  King  and  country,  and  may  pass  under 
the  censure  of  scandalous  tongues  in  the  last  ex 
pedition,  which  I  hope  they  will  amend  on  the  first 
opportunity  of  service.  I  leare  to  mature  consid 
eration,  the  loss  of  trade  and  fishery;  the  war 
brought  to  the  doors.  What  a  triumph  it  will  be 
to  the  enemy,  derision  to  our  neighbours,  besides 
dishonour  to  God  and  our  nation,  and  grounds  of 
frowns  from  our  Prince,  the  frustration  of  those 
whose  eyes  are  upon  you  for  help;  who  might  have 
otherwise  applied  themselves  to  their  King.  Gen 
tlemen,  this  I  thought  humbly  to  propose  unto  you, 
that  I  might  discharge  myself  in  my  trust  from 
yourselves,  and  promise  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
province,  but  especially  my  duty  to  God,  her 
Majesty,  and  my  nation,  praying  for  your  honours 
prosperity,  subscribe, 

"  Your  servant, 

-BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 
"  A  true  copy  given  in  at  Boston,  this 
6th  of  February,  1689,  at  the  Coun 
cil  Board.  Attest.  T,  S." 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  143 

Major  Church  said,  moreover,  that  in  thus  do 
ing  he  had  complied  with  his  promise  to  those 
poor  people  of  Casco,  and  should  be  acquitted 
from  the  guilt  of  their  blood*  The  Governor  was 
pleased  to  thank  him  for  his  care  and  pains  taken, 
then  taking  his  leave  of  them  went  home,  and  left 
Captain  Scottavvay  in  a  very  sorrowful  condition, 
who  returned  home  sometime  after  with  only  a 
copy  of  what  was  left  on  the  board  by  the  said 
Church.  Maj.  Church  not  hearing  any  thing  till 
May  following,  and  then  was  informed,  that  those 
poor  people  of  Casco  were  cut  off  by  the  barba 
rous  enemy;  and  that  although  they  made  their 
terms  with  Monsieur  Casteen,  who  was  com 
mander  of  those  enemies,  yet  he  suffered  those 
merciless  savages  to  massacre  and  destroy  the 
most  of  them.  To  conclude  this  first  expedition 
East,  I  shall  just  give  you  a  hint  how  Major 
Church  was  treated,  although  he  was  Commander 
in  Chief  of  all  the  forces  out  of  Plymouth  and 
Boston  government*  After  he  came  home,  Plym 
outh  gentlemen  paid  him  but  forty-two  pounds; 
telling  him,  he  must  go  to  Boston  Gentlemen  for 
the  rest,  who  were  his  employers  as  well  as  they. 
Of  whom  he  never  had  one  penny,  for  all  travel 
and  expenses  in  raising  volunteers,  and  services 
done;  except  forty  shillings  or  thereabout,  for 
going  from  Boston  to  Rhode-Island  on  their  bu 
siness,  and  back  to  Boston  again;  also  for  send 
ing  a  man  to  Providence,  after  Captain  Edmunds, 
who  raised  a  company  in  those  parts,  and  went 
East  with  them. 


144  WAR    WITH    THE 


SECOND  EXPEDITION  EAST. 

IN  the  year  1690  was  the  expedition  to  Cana 
da,  and  Major  W alley*  often  requested  Major 
Church  that  if  he  would  not  go  himself  in  that 
expedition,  that  he  would  not  hinder  others.  He 
told  the  said  Walley,  that  he  should  hinder  none 
but  his  old  soldiers,  that  used  to  go  along  with 
him.  And  the  said  Church  going  down  to 
Charlestown,  to  take  his  leave  of  some  of  his  re 
lations  and  friends,  who  were  going  into  that  ex 
pedition,  promised  his  wife  and  family,  not  to  go 
into  Boston,  the  small-pox  being  very  rife  there. 
Coming  to  Charlestown,  several  of  his  friends  in 
Boston  came  over  to  see  him;  and  the  next  day 
after  the  said  Church  came  there,  Major  Walley 
came  to  him,  and  informed  him,  that  the  Gover 
nor  and  Council  wanted  to  speak  with  him.  He 
told  him,  that  he  had  promised  his  wife  and  fami 
ly  not  to  go  into  Boston;  saying,  if  they  had  any 
business,  they  could  write  to  him,  and  that  he 
would  send  them  his  answer.  Soon  after  came 
over  two  other  gentlemen  with  a  message,  that 
the  Governor  and  Council  wanted  to  have  some 
discourse  with  him.  The  answer  returned  was, 
that  he  intended  to  lodge  that  night  at  the  Gray- 
hound  in  Roxbury,  and  that  in  the  morning  would 

*  Major  John  Walley  had  the  command  of  the  land  forces 
in  this  expedition  to  Canada,  under  the  direction  of  Sir 
William  Phipps.  They  took  Port  Royal  without  much  op 
position,  but  were  obliged  to  retire  from  Quebeck  with  loss 
On  their  return  to  Boston  the  government  had  made  no 
preparation  for  paying  the  men,  relying  on  plunder  to  defray 
the  expense;  bills  of  credit,  therefore,  wrere  resorted  to, 
which  were  the  first  ever  used  in  this  country. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  145 

come  to  Pollard's  at  the  south  end  of  Boston; 
which  accordingly  he  did.  Soon  after  he  came 
thither,  he  received  a  letler  from  the  honorable 
Captain  Sewall,  to  request  him  to  come  to  the 
Council.  The  answer  he  returned  by  the  bearer 
was,  that  he  thought  there  was  no  need  of  his 
hazarding  himself  so  much  as  to  come  and  speak 
with  them;  not  that  he  was  afraid  of  his  life,  but 
because  he  had  no  mind  to  be  concerned;  and  fur 
ther,  because  they  would  not  hearken  to  him 
about  the  poor  people  of  Casco.  But  immediate 
ly  came  Mr.  Maxfield  to  him,  saying,  that  the 
Council  bid  him  tell  the  said  Church,  that  if  he 
would  take  his  horse  and  ride  along  the  middle  of 
the  street,  there  might  be  no  danger,  they  were 
then  sitting  in  Council.  He  bid  them  go  and 
tell  his  masters,  not  to  trouble  themselves,  wheth 
er  he  came  upon  his  head  or  feet,  he  was  coming. 
However,  thinking  the  return  was  something 
rude,  called  him  back  to  drink  a  glass  of  wine, 
and  then  went  along  with  him.  So  coming  to 
the  Council,  they  were  very  thankful  to  him  for 
his  corning;  and  told  him  that  the  occasion  of 
their  sending  for  him  was,  that  there  was  a  cap 
tive  come  in,  who  gave  them  an  account,  that  the 
Indians  were  come  down,  and  had  taken  posses 
sion  of  the  stone  fort  at  Pejepscot,  so  that  they 
wanted  his  advice  and  thoughts  about  the  matter, 
whether  they  would  tarry  and  keep  in  the  fort 
or  not;  and  whether  it  was  not  expedient  to 
send  some  forces  to  do  some  spoil  upon  them;  and 
further  to  know  whether  he  could  not  be  prevail 
ed  with  to  raise  some  volunteers  and  go  and  do 
some  spoil  upon  them.  He  answered  them,  he 
was  unwilling  to  be  concerned  any  more;  it  being 
1*3 


146  WAR    WITH    THE 

very  difficult  and  chargeable  to  raise  volunteers, 
as  he  found  by  experience  in  the  last  expedition. 
But  they  using  many  arguments  prevailed  so  far 
with  him,  he  said,  that  if  the  Government  of 
Plymouth  saw  cause  to  send  him,  he  would  go, 
thinking  the  expedition  would  be  short;  so  he 
took  his  leave  of  them  and  went  home.  And  in 
a  short  time  after,  there  came  an  express  from 
Governor  Hinkley,  to  request  Major  Church  to 
come  to  Barnstable  to  him.  He  having  received 
a  letter  from  the  Government  of  Boston  to  raise 
some  forces  to  go  East.  Whereupon  the  ^ said 
Major  Church  went  the  next  day  to  Barnstable, 
as  ordered;  finding  the  Governor  and  some  of  the 
Council  of  War  there.  They  discoursed  with 
him,  and  concluded  that  he  should  take  his  Indian 
soldiers,  and  two  English  Captains,  with  what 
volunteers  could  be  raised;  and  that  one  Captain 
should  go  out  of  Plymouth  and  Barnstable  coun 
ty,  and  the  other  out  of  Bristol  county,  with  what 
forces  he  could  raise,  concluding  to  have  but  few 
officers,  to  save  charge.  The  said  Church  was 
at  great  charge  and  expense  in  raising  forces. 
Governor  Hinkley  promised  that  he  would  take 
care  to  provide  vessels  to  transport  the  said  army 
with  ammunition  and  provisions,  by  the  time  pre 
fixed  by  himself;  for  the  Government  of  Boston 
had  obliged  themselves  by  their  letter,  to  provide 
any  thing  that  was  wanting.  So  at  the  time  pre 
fixed  Major  Church  marched  down  all  his  soldiers 
out  of  Bristol  County  to  Plymouth,  as  ordered; 
and  being  come,  found  it  not  as  he  expected,  for 
there  were  neither  provisions,  ammunition  nor 
transports;  so  he  immediately  sent  an  express  to 
the  Governor  who  was  at  Barnstable,  to  give  him 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  14-7 

an  account  that  he  with  the  men  were  come  to 
Plymouth,  and  found  nothing  ready.  In  his  re 
turn  to  the  said  Church,  gave  him  an  account  of 
his  disappointments;  and  sent  John  Lathrop  of 
Barnstable  in  a  vessel  with  some  ammunition  and 
provision  to  him,  at  Plymouth;  also  sent  him 
word  that  there  were  more  on  board  of  Samuel 
Ailing,  of  Barnstable,  who  was  to  go  as  a  trans 
port,  and  that  he  himself  would  be  at  Plymouth 
next  day;  but  Ailing  never  came  near  him,  but 
we.nt  to  Billings-gate,  at  Cape  Cod,  as  he  was  in 
formed.  The  Governor  being  come,  told  Major 
Church,  that  he  must  take  some  of  the  open 
sloops,  and  make  spar  decks  to  them,  and  lay 
platforms  for  the  soldiers  to  lie  upon.  These  de 
lays  were  very  expensive  to  the  said  Church. 
His  soldiers  being  all  volunteers,  daily  expected 
to  be  treated  by  him,  and  the  Indians  always  beg 
ging  for  money  to  get  drink.  But  he  using  his 
utmost  diligence,  made  what  despatch  he  could  to 
be  gone,  being  ready  to  embark,  received  his 
commission  and  instructions  from  Governor  Hink- 
ley,  which  are  as  followeth,  viz. 

"  The  Council  of  War  of  their  Majesties'  Colony 
of  New  Plymouth,  in  New-England,  to  Major 
Benjamin  Church,  Commander  in  Chief,  £,c. 

"WHEREAS  the  Kennebeck  and  Eastward  In 
dians,  with  the  French  their  confederates,  have 
openly  made  war  upon  their  Majesties'  subjects  of 
the  Provinces  of  Maine,  New-Hampshire,  ^ud  of 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  having  committed 
many  barbarous  murders,  spoils  and  rapines  upon 
their  persons  and  estates.  And  whereas  there  are 
some  forces  of  soldiers,  English  and  Indians,  now 


148  WAR    WITH    THE 

raised  and  detached  out  of  the  severel  regiments 
and  places  within  this  Colony  of  New-Plymouth, 
to  go  forth  to  the  assistance  of  our  neighbours 
and  friends  of  the  aforesaid  provinces  and  colony 
of  the  Massachusetts,  subjects  of  one  and  the 
same  crown.  And  whereas  you,  Benjamin 
Church,  are  appointed  to  be  Major  and  Com 
mander 'in  Chief  of  all  the  forces,  English  and  In 
dians,  attached  within  this  colony,  together  with 
such  other  of  their  Majesties9  subjects  as  elsewhere 
shall  enlist  themselves,  or  shall  be  orderly  put  under 
your  command  for  the  service  of  their  Majesties, 
as  aforesaid.  These  are  in  their  Majesties'  names 
to  authorise  and  require  you  to  take  into  your 
care  and  conduct  all  the  said  forces,  English  and 
Indians,  and  diligently  to  intend  that  service,  by 
leading  and  exercising  your  inferior  officers  and 
soldiers,  commanding  them  to  obey  you  as  their 
chief  Commander.  And  to  pursue,  fight,  take, 
kill  or  destroy  the  said  enemies,  their  aiders  and 
abetters  by  all  the  ways  and  means  you  can,  as 
you  shall  have  opportunity,  and  to  accept  to  mer 
cy*  or  grant  quarter  and  favor  to  such,  or  so  many 
of  said  enemies  as  you  shall  find  needful  for  pro 
moting  the  design  aforesaid.  And  you  are  to  ob 
serve  and  obey  ail  such  orders  and  instructions,  as 
from  time  to  time  you  shall  receive  from  the  Com 
missioners  of  the  colonies,  or  the  Council  of  War 
of  the  said  colony  of  New-Plymouth,  or  from  the 
Governor  and  C^mncil  of  the  Massachusetts.  In. 
testimony  whereof  is  affixed  the  public  seal  of  this 
colony.  Dated  in  Plymouth  the  second  day  of 
September,  Anno  Dom.  1690,  Jlnnoqiie  Itcgni 
Regis  et  'Reginw  Willielmi  et  Maria,  fyc.  tie- 
cundQ.  TUG.  HINKLEY,  Pres" 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  149 

Instructions  for  Major  Benjamin  Church,  Com 
mander  in  Chief  of  the  Plymouth  forces,  with 
other  of  the  Massachusetts  put  under  his  com 
mand. 

"  IN  pursuance  of  the  commission  given  you 
for  their  Majesties'  service,  in  the  present  expe 
dition  against  the  common  enemy,  Indian  and 
French,  their  aiders  and  abetters,  on  the  request 
of  our  brethren  and  friends  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony,  subjects  of  one  and  the  same  crown  of 
England;  for  our  assistance  of  them  therein. 
Reposing  confidence  in  your  wisdom,  prudence, 
proneness  and  faithfulness  in  the  trust  under  God 
committed  to  you  for  the  honour  of  his  name,  the 
interest  of  Christ  in  these  churches,  and  the  good 
of  the  whole  people,  praying  and  expecting  that 
in  your  dependance  on  him,  you  may  be  helped 
and  assisted  with  all  that  grace,  wisdom  and  cour 
age  necessary  for  the  carrying  of  you  on  with  sue- : 
cess  in  this  difficult  service;  and  though  much  is 
and  must  be  left  to  your  discretion,  with  your  Coun 
cil  of  Officers,  as  Providence  and  opportunity  may 
present  from  time  to  time  in  places  of  action; 
yet  the  following  instructions  are  commended  to 
you  to  be  observed  and  attended  to  by  you,  so 
far  as  the  state  and  circumstances  of  that  affair 
will  admit. 

"  You  are  with  all  possible  speed  to  take  care 
that  the  Plymouth  forces,  both  English  and  In 
dians,  under  your  command,  be  fixed  and  ready 
on  the  first  opportunity  of  wind  and  weather,  to 
go  on  board  such  vessels,  as  are  provided  to  trans 
port  you  to  Piscataqua;  and  there  to  take  under 
your  care  and  command  such  companies  of  the 


150  WAR    WITH    Tll£. 

Massachusetts  colony,  as  shall  by  them  be  order 
ed  and  added  to  you  there,  or  elsewhere  from  time 
to  time;  all  which  you  are  lo  improve  in  such 
way,  and  from  place  to  place,  as  with  the  advice 
of  your  Council,  consisting  of  the  Commissioned 
Officers  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  and  Ply 
mouth,  under  your  conduct,  shall  seem  meet,  for 
the  finding  out,  pursuing,  taking  or  destroying  of 
the  said  common  enemy,  on  all  opportunities,  ac 
cording  to  commission,  and  such  further  orders 
and  instructions  as  you  have  or  may  receive  from 
the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Massachusetts, 
the  Commissioners  for  the  United  Colonies,  or 
the  Governor  and  Council  of  Plymouth;  so  far 
as  you  may  be  capable,  intending  what  you  can 
the  preserving  of  the  near  towns  from  the  incur 
sions  and  destructions  of  the  enemy;  but  chiefly 
tp  intend  the  finding  out,  pursuing,  taking  and  de- 
s|roying  the  enemy  abroad,  and  if  possible  to  at- 
Jack  them  in  their  head  quarters  and  principal 
Rendezvous,  if  you  are  in  a  rational  capacity  of  so 
doing;  and  for  the  better  enabling  you  thereunto, 
we  have  appointed  the  vessels  that  transport  you, 
and  the  provisions,  &LC.  to  attend  your  motion  and 
order  until  you  shall  see  cause  to  dismiss  them, 
or  any  of  them,  which  is  desired  to  be  done  the 
first  opportunity  the  service  will  admit.  You  are 
to  see  that  your  soldiers5  arms  be  always  fixed, 
and  they  provided  with  ammunition,  and  other  ne 
cessaries,  that  they  may  be  always  ready  to  repel 
and  attack  the  enemy.  You  are  to  take  special 
eare  to  avoid  danger  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
"by  keeping  out  scouts,  and  a  forlorn,  to  prevent 
the  ambushmoiits  of  the  enemy  on  your  main  body 
in  their  inarches.  And  by  all  possible  means  to 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  151 

surprise  some  of  the  enemy,  that  so  you  may  gain 
better  intelligence. 

"  You  are  to  take  effectual  care  that  the  wor 
ship  of  God  be  kept  up  in  the  army,  that  morning 
and  evening  prayer  be  attended,  and  the  Holy 
Sabbath  duly  sanctified,  as  the  emergency  of  your 
affairs  will  admit. 

"  You  are  to  take  strict  care  to  prevent  or 
punish  drunkenness,  cursing,  swearing,  and  all  oth 
er  vices,  lest  the  anger  of  God  be  hereby  provok 
ed  to  fight  against  you.  You  are,  from  time  to 
time,  to  give  intelligence  and  advice  to  the  Gov 
ernor  of  the  Massachusetts,  and  to  us,  of  your 
proceedings  and  occurrences  that  may  attend  you. 
And  in  case  of  a  failure  of  any  commissioned  offi 
cers,  you  are  to  appoint  others  in  their  stead. 
And  when,  with  the  advice  of  your  Council  afore 
said,  you  shall,  after  some  trial,  see  your  service 
not  like  to  be  advantageous  to  the  accomplishment 
of  the  public  end  aforesaid;  that  then  you  return 
home  with  the  forces;  especially  if  you  shall  re 
ceive  any  orders  or  directions  so  to  do  from  the 
Massachusetts,  or  from  us.  Given  under  my 
hand,  at  Plymouth,  the  2d  of  September,  Anno 
Domini  1690. 

THOMAS  HINKLEY,  Gov.  and  Pres" 

Now  having  a  fair  wind  Maj.  Church  soon  got 
to  Piscataqua,  who  was  to  apply  himself  to  Maj. 
Pike,  a  worthy  gentleman,  who  said,  he  had  ad 
vice  of  his  coming  from  Boston  gentlemen;  also 
he  had  received  directions  that  what  men  the  said 
Church  should  want  must  be  raised  out  of  Hamp 
shire  from  the  several  towns  and  garrisons.  Maj. 
Pike  asked  him,  how  many  men  he  should  want? 


152  WAR    WITH    THE 

he  said  enough  to  make  up  his  forces  that  he 
brought  with  him,  three  hundred  at  least,  and  not 
more  than  three  hundred  and  fifty.  And  so  in 
about  nine  days  time  he  was  supplyed  with  two 
companies  of  soldiers.  He  having  been  at  about 
twenty  shillings  a  day  charge  in  expences  while 
there.  Now  he  received  Maj.  Pike's  instructions, 
which  are  as  followeth: 

"Portsmouth,  JV.  //.  Sept.  9,  1690. 
"To  Major  Benj.  Church,  Commander  in  Chief 
of  their  Majesties'  forces  now  designed  upon 
the  present  expedition  Eastward,  and  now  resi 
dent  at  Portsmouth. 

4 'The  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Colony  reposing  great  trust  and  confi 
dence  in  your  loyalty  and  valour,  from  experience 
of  your  former  actions,  and  of  God's  presence 
with  you  in  the  same,  in  pursuance  of  an  order, 
received  from  them,  commanding  it;  These  are, 
in  their  Majesties'  names,  to  empower  and  require 
you  as  Commander  in  Chief,  to  take  into  your 
care  and  conduct  these  forces  now  here  present 
at  their  rendezvous  at  Portsmouth;  and  they  are 
alike  required  to  obey  you.  And  with  them  to 
sail  Eastward  by  the  first  opportunity  to  Casco, 
or  places  adjacent,  that  may  be  most  commodious 
for  landing  with  safety  and  secresy.  And  to  visit 
the  French  and  Indians  at  their  head-quarters  at 
Ameras-cogen,  Pejepscot,  or  any  other  place,  ac 
cording  as  you  may  have  hope  or  intelligence  of 
the  residence  of  the  enemy;  using  always  your 
utmost  endeavour  for  the  preservation  of  your  own 
men,  and  the  killing,  destroying,  and  utterly  root 
ing  out  of  the  enemy,  wheresoevei  they  may  be 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  153 

ibund;  and  also  as  much  as  may  possibly  be  done 
for  the  redeeming  or  recovering  of  our  captives  in 
any  places. 

"  You  being  there  arrived,  and  understanding 
your  way,  to  take  your  journey  back  again  either 
by  land  or  water,  as  you  shall  judge  most  conven 
ient  for  the  accomplishing  of  the  end  intended  \ 
and  to  give  intelligence  always  of  your  motions 
whensoever  you  can  with  safety  and  convenience. 

Lastly,  In  all  to  consult  your  council,  the  com 
manders  or  commissioned  officers  of  your  several 
companies,  when  it  may  be  obtained,  the  greater 
part  of  whom  to  determine.  And  so  the  Lord  of 
hosts,  the  God  of  armies,  go  along  with  you,  and 
be  your  conductor.  Given  under  my  hand  the 
day  and  year  above  said. 

Per  ROBERT  PIKE.55 

Being  ready,  they  took  the  first  opportunity, 
and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  Pejepscot  fort, 
where  they  found  nothing.  From  thence  they 
marched  to  Ameras-cogen.*  And  when  they 
came  near  the  fort,  Maj.  Church  made  a  halt,  or 
dering  the  Captains  to  draw  out  of  their  several 
companies  sixty  of  their  meanest  men,  to  be  a 
guard  to  the  Doctor  and  knapsacks,  being  not  a 
mile  from  said  fort;  and  then  moving  towards  the 
fort,  they  saw  young  Doney  and  his  wife,  with 
two  English  captives.  The  said  Doney  made  his 
escape  to  the  fort:  his  wife  was  shot  down,  and  so 
the  poor  captives  were  released  out  of  their  bon- 

*  A  fine  river  of  New-Hampshire,  which  flows  eastward, 
and  after  entering  Maine,  falls  into  the  Kennebeck.  There 
are  different  ways  of  writing  this  word;  as,  Ameriscoggen, 
Androscoggin,  Amoscoggan,  &.c.  but  it  is  generally  pro 
nounced  in  New-Hampshire,  Amrascoggin. 


154  WAR    WITH    THE 

dage.  Maj.  Church  and  Capt.  Walton  made  no 
stop,  making  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  fort, 
with  some  of  the  army,  in  hopes  of  getting  to  the 
fort  before  young  Doney;  but  the  river,  through 
which  they  must  pass,  was  as  deep  as  their  arm 
pits;  however  Maj.  Church,  as  soon  as  he  had 
got  over,  stripped  to  his  shirt  and  jacket,  leaving 
his  breeches  behind,  ran  directly  to  the  fort,  hav 
ing  an  eye  to  see  if  young  Doney,  who  ran  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river,  should  get  there  before  him. 
The  wind  now  blowing  very  hard  in  their  faces, 
as  they  ran,  was  some  help  to  them;  for  several  of 
our  men  fired  guns,  which  they  in  the  fort  did  not 
hear,  so  that  we  had  taken  all  in  the  fort,  had  it 
not  been  for  young  Doney,  who  got  to  the  fort 
just  before  we  did,  who  ran  into  the  south  gate, 
and  out  at  the  north,  all  the  men  following  him, 
except  one,  and  all  ran  directly  down  to  the  great 
river  and  falls.*  The  said  Church,  and  his  forces, 
being  come  pretty  near,  he  ordered  Capt.  Walton 
to  run  directly,  with  some  forces,  into  the  fort, 
and  himself,  with  the  rest,  ran  down  to  the  river 
after  the  enemy,  who  ran  some  of  them  into  the 
river,  and  the  rest  under  the  great  falls.  Those 
who  ran  into  the  river  were  killed,  for  he  saw  but 
one  man  get  over,  and  he  only  crept  up  the  bank, 
and  there  lay  in  open  sight.  Those  that  run  under 
the  falls  they  made  no  discovery  of,  notwithstand 
ing  several  of  his  men  went  in  under  the  said  falls, 
and  were  gone  some  conquerable  time,  could  not 
fiiid  them.  So  leaving  a  watch  there,  returned 
to  the  fort,  where  he  found  but  one  man  taken, 
and  several  women  and  children,  among  whom 

*  A  beautiful  fall  in  the  Amrascoggin. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  155 

were  Capt.  Hakins  and  Worumbos'  wives  and 
children.  Worumbos  was  Sachem  of  that  fort. 
Hakins  was  Sachem  of  Pennacook,  who  destroy 
ed  Maj.  Walden*  and  his  family,  some  time  be 
fore.  The  said  two  women,  viz.  Hakins  and 
Worumbos'  wives,  requested  the  said  Church  that 
he  would  spare  them  and  their  children's  lives, 
promising,  upon  that  condition,  he  should  have  all 
the  captives  that  were  taken,  and  in  the  Indians 
hands.  He  asked  them,  how  many?  they  said, 
about  fourscore.  So  upon  that  condition,  he 
promised  them  their  lives.  And  in  the  said  fort 
there  were  several  English  captives,  who  were  in 
a  miserable  condition.  Among  them  was  Capt. 
Huckings'  wife,  of  Oyster-river. f  Maj.  Church 
proceeded  to  examine  the  man  taken,  who  gave 
him  an  account  that  most  of  the  fighting  men  were 
gone  to  Winter-harbour,  to  provide  provisions  for 
the  Bay  of  Fundy  Indians,  who  were  to  come  and 
join  with  them  to  fight  the  English.  The  soldiers 
being  very  rude,  would  hardly  spare  the  Indian's 

*  Waldron.  This  gentleman  and  his  family,  on  the  night 
of  27th  of  June,  1689,  were  all  massacreed.  13  years  be 
fore,  Maj.  Waldron  had  surprised  by  stratagem,  about  200 
Indians,  who  had  at  times  been  troublesome.  Revenge  re 
mained  in  the  breasts  of  the  tribes  above  mentioned,  till 
that  fatal  night.  When  this  affair  took  place,  the  Major 
was  80  years  old,  yet,  he  made  a  gallant  defence,  at  length 
overpowered  by  numbers,  was  taken  and  cut  in  pieces. 
In  this  affair  fifty-two  persons  were  killed  and  made  cap 
tives.  The  plan  of  the  Indians  to  enter  the  Major's  garri 
son,  was  artful.  Some  squaws  pretending  illness,  were 
permitted  to  lodge  within,  when  all  were  asleep,  they  arose, 
unlocked  the  gates  and  the  foes  entered.  Major  Waldron 
lived  in  Dover,  N.  H.  which  is  about  ten  miles  N.  W.  of 
Portsmouth. 

f  Formerly  Dover  was  so  called. — JV.  H,  Gaz. 


156  WAR    WITH    THE 

life,  while  in  examination,  intending  when  he  had 
done  that  he  should  be  executed.  But  Capt. 
Huckings'  wife,  and  another  woman  fell  on  their 
knees  and  begged  for  him,  saying  that  he  had 
been  the  means  of  saving  their  lives,  and  a  great 
many  more;  and  had  helped  several  to  opportuni 
ties  to  make  their  escape;  and  that  never,  since 
he  came  among  them,  had  fought  against  the  Eng 
lish,  but  being  related  to  Hakins5  wife,  kept  at 
the  fort  with  them,  he  having  been  there  two 
years;  but  his  living  was  to  the  westward  of  Bos 
ton;  so,  upon  their  request,  his  life  was  spared. 
Next  day  the  said  Church  ordered  that  all  their 
corn  should  be  destroyed,  being  a  great  quantity, 
saving  a  little  for  the  two  old  squaws  which  he 
designed  to  leave  at  the  fort,  to  give  an  account 
who  he  was  and  from  whence  he  came;  the  rest 
being  knocked  on  the  head,  except  the  aforemen 
tioned,  for  an  example.  He  ordered  them  all  to 
be  buried.  Having  inquired  where  all  their  best 
beaver  were,  they  said  they  were  carried  away  to 
make  a  present  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy  Indiand,  who 
were  coming  to  their  assistance. 

Now  being  ready  to  draw  off  from  thence,  he 
called  the  two  old  squaws  to  him,  and  gave  each 
of  them  a  kettle  and  some  biscuit,  bidding  them 
to  tell  the  Indians  when  they  came  home,  that 
he  was  known  by  the  name  of  Capt.  Church, 
and  lived  in  the  westerly  part  of  Plymouth  gov 
ernment,  and  that  those  Indians  that  came  with 
him  were  formerly  King  Philip's  men,  and  that 
he  had  met  with  them  in  Philip's  war,  and  drawn 
them  off  from  him,  to  fight  for  the  English,  against 
the  said  Philip  and  his  associates,  who  then  prom 
ised  him  to  fight  for  the  English  as  long  as  they 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 


15  r 


had  one  enemy  left;  and  said,  that  they  did  not 
question  but  before  Indian  corn  was  ripe  to  have 
Philip's  head,   notwithstanding  he   had  twice   as 
many  men  as  were  in  their  country;  and  that  they 
had  killed  and  taken  one  thousand   three  hundred 
and  odd  of  Philip's  men,  women  and  children,  and  , 
Philip  himself,  with  several  other  Sachems;    and 
that  they  should  tell  Hakins  and  Worumbos,  that 
if  they  had  a  mind  to  see  their  wives  and  children 
they  should   come   to   Wells'  garrison,   and  that 
there    they    might  hear    of  them,    SLC.       Major 
Church  having  done,   moved  with  all  his   forces 
down  to  Mequait,  where  the  transports  were,  but 
in  the  way  some  of  his  soldiers  threatened  the  In 
dian  man  prisoner  very  much,  so   that  in  a  thick 
swamp  he  gave  them  the  slip  and  got  away,    and 
when  they  all  got  on  board  the   transports,    the 
wind  being  fair,  made  the  best  of  their   way   for 
Winter  harbour.     And  the  next  morning  before 
day,  or  as  soon  as  the  day  appeared,  they  discov 
ered  some  smokes  rising  towards  Skaman's  garri 
son.     He  immediately  sent  away  a  scout  of  60 
men,  and  followed  presently  with  the  whole  body; 
the    scout    coming  near    a  river,  discovered  the 
enemy  to  be  on  the  other  side  of  it.     But  three 
of  the  enemy  were  come  over  to  the  same  side  of 
the  river  which  the  scout  was  on.     They  ran  hast 
ily  down  to  their  canoe,  one  of  which  lay  at  each 
end  of  it,  and  the  third  stood  up  to  paddle  them 
over.     The  scout  fired  at  them,  and  he  that  pad 
dled  fell  down  upon  the  canoe,    and   broke   it  in 
pieces,  so  that  all  three  perished.     The  firing  put 
the  enemy  to  the  rout,  who  left  their  canoes   and 
provisions    to    our  men.     Old  Doney,    and    one 
Thomas  Baker,   an  Englishman,  who  was  a  pris- 
14 


158  WAR    WITH    THE 

oner  among  them,  were  up  at  the  falls,  ?md  heard 
the  guns,  expected  the  other  Indians  had  come  to 
their  assistance,  so  they  came  down  the  river  in  a 
canoe;  but  when  they  perceived  that  there  were 
English  as  well  as  Indicins,  old  Doney  ran  the 
canoe  ashore,  and  ran  over  Baker's  head  and  fol 
lowed  the  rest,  and  then  Baker  came  to  us.  He 
gave  an  account  of  the  beaver  hid  at  Pejepscot 
plain.  Coming  to  the  place  where  the  plunder 
was,  the  Major  sent  a  scout  to  Pejepscot  fort, 
to  see  if  they  could  make  any  discovery  of  the  en 
emy's  tracks,  or  could  discover  any  coming  up  the 
river,  who  returned  and  said  they  saw  nothing 
but  our  old  tracks  at  the  fort. 

Now  having  got  some  plunder,  one  of  the  Cap 
tains  said  it  was  time  to  go  home,  and  several 
others  were  of  the  same  mind;  the  Major  being 
much  disturbed  at  the  motion,  expecting  the  ene 
my  would  come,  in  a  very  short  time,  where  they 
might  have  a  great  advantage  of  them,  &,c.  Not 
withstanding  all  he  could  say  or  do,  he  was  obliged 
to  call  a  council,  according  to  his  instructions, 
wherein  he  was  out-voted.  The  said  Commander 
seeing  he  was  put  by  of  his  intentions,  proffered 
if  sixty  men  would  stay  with  him,  he  would  not 
embark  as  yet;  but  all  he  could  say  or  do  could 
not  prevail.  Then  they  moved  to  the  vessels  and 
embarked.  As  they  were  going  in  the  vessels, 
on  the  back  side  of  Mayr-point,  they  discovered 
eight  or  nine  canoes,  who  turned  short  about,  and 
went  up  the  river;  being  the  same  Indians  that 
the  Major  expected,  and  would  have  waited  for. 
The  aforesaid  Captain  being  much  disturbed  at 
what  the  Major  had  said  to  him,  drew  off  from 
the  fleet,  and  in  the  night  ran  aground.  In  the 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  159 

morning,  Anthony  Bracket,  having  been  advised 
and  directed  by  the  Indian  that  had  made  his  es 
cape  from  our  forces,  came  down  near  where  the 
aforesaid  vessel  lay  aground,  and  got  aboard,  who 
proved  a  good  pilot,  and  Captain  for  his  country. 
The  next  day  being  very  calm  and  misty,  so  that 
they  were  all  day  getting  down  from  Mequait  to 
Perpodack;  and  the  masters  of  the  vessels  think 
ing  it  not  safe  putting  out  in  the  night,  so  late  in 
the  year,  anchored  there.  The  vessels  being 
much  crowded,  the  Major  ordered  that  three  com 
panies  should  go  on  shore,  and  no  more,  himself 
with  Capt.  Converse  went  with  them  to  order  their 
lodging,  and  find  houses  convenient  for  them,  viz. 
two  barns  and  one  house;  so  seeing  them  all  set 
tled  and  their  watches  out,  the  Major  and  Capt. 
Converse  returned  to  go  on  board,  and  coming 
near  where  Jflje  boat  was,  it  was  pretty  dark,  they 
discovered  v^rne  men,  but  did  not  know  what  or 
who  they  were.  The  Major  ordered  those  that 
were  with  him  all  to  clap  down  and  cock, 
their  guns.  He  called  out  and  asked  them  who 
they  were?  They  said  Indians.  He  asked  them 
whose  men  they  were.  They  said,  Capt.  South- 
worth's.  He  asked  them  where  they  intended  to 
lodge?  They  said,  in  those  little  huts  that  the  en 
emy  had  made  when  they  took  that  garrison.  The 
Major  told  them  they  must  not  make  any  fires; 
for  if  they  did,  the  enemy  would  be  upon  them 
before  day.  They  laughed,  and  said,  "  our  Major 
is  afraid."  Having  given  them  their  directions,  he, 
with  Capt.  Converse,  went  on  board  the  Mary 
sloop;  designing  to  write  home,  and  send  away 
in  the  morning,  the  two  sloops  which  had  the 
small-pox  on  board,  &,e.  But  before  day  our  In- 


160 


WAR    WITH    THE 


(Hans  began  to  make  fires,  and  sing  and  dance. 
The  Major  called  to  Capt.  Southworth  to  go 
ashore  and  look  after  his  men,  for  the  enemy 
would  be  upon  them  by  and  by.  He  ordered  the 
boat  to  be  hauled  up  to  carry  him  ashore,  and 
called  Capt.  Converse  to  go  with  him.  And  just 
as  the  day  began  to  appear,  as  the  Major  was  get 
ting  into  the  boat  to  go  ashore,  the  enemy  fired 
upon  our  men.  The  Indians,  notwithstanding 
that  one  Philip,  an  Indian  of  ours,  who  was  out 
upon  the  watch,  heard  a  man  cough,  and  the  sticks 
crack,  and  gave  the  rest  an  account,  that  he  saw 
Indians;  yet  they  would  not  believe;  but  said  to 
him,  "You  are  afraid;"  his  answer  was,  that  they 
might  see  them  come  creeping.  They  laughed, 
and  said,  they  were  hogs.  Ay,  said  he,  and  they 
will  bite  you  by  and  by.  So  presently  they  did  fire 
upon  our  men;  but  the  morning  being:  misty,  their 
guns  did  not  go  off  quick,  so  that  oui''-)ien  had  all 
time  to  fall  down  before  their  guns  went  off,  and 
saved  themselves  from  that  volley,  except  one 
man,  who  was  killed. 

This  sudden  firing  upon  our  Indian  soldiers 
so  surprised  them,  that  they  left  their  arms,  but 
soon  recovered  them  again,  and  got  down  the 
bank,  which  was  but  low.  The  Major,  with  all 
the  forces  on  board,  landed  as  fast  as  they  could, 
the  enemy  firing  smartly  at  them;  however  all 
got  safe  ashore.  The  enemy  had  a  great  advan 
tage  of  our  forces,  who  were  between  the  sunris- 
ing  and  the  enemy,  so  that  if  a  man  put  up  his 
head  or  hand  they  could  see  it,  and  would  fire  at 
it:  However,  some,  with  the  Major,  got  up  the 
bank  behind  stumps  and  rocks,  to  have  the  advan 
tage  of  firing  at  the  enemy;  but  when  the  sun  was 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  161 

risen   the  Major  slipped  down  the  bank  again, 
where  all  the  forces  were  ordered  to  observe  his 
motion,  viz.  that  he  would  give  three  shouts,   and 
then  all  of  them  should  run  with  him  up  the  bank. 
So,  when  he  had  given  the   third  shout,   ran   up 
the  bank,  and  Capt.  Converse  with  him,  but  when 
the  said  Converse  perceived  that  the  forces  did 
not  follow  as'  commanded,  called  to  the  Major, 
and  told  him  the  forces  did   not  follow,  who,  not 
withstanding  the  enemy  fired   smartly  at  him,  got 
safe  down  the  bank  again,  and  rallying  the  forces 
up  the  bank,  soon  put  the  enemy  to  flight.     They 
followed  them  so  close,  that  they  took  13  canoes, 
and  one  lusty  man,  who  had  Joseph  RamsdePs 
scalp  by  his  side,  who  was  taken  by  two  of  our 
Indians,  and  having  his  deserts  was  himself  scalp 
ed.     This  being  a  short  and  smart  fight,  some  of 
our  men  were  killed  and  several  wounded.     Some 
time   after,   an    Englishman,   who    was    prisoner 
among  them,  gave  an  account  that  our  forces  had 
killed  and  wounded  several  of  the  enemy,  for  they 
killed  several  prisoners  according  to  custom,  &,c. 
After  this  action  was  over  our  forces  embarked 
for  Piscataqua.     The  Major  went  to  Wells,  and 
removed  the  Captain  there,  and  put  in  Capt.  An- 
dros,  who  had  been  with  him  and  knew  the  condi 
tions  ]eft  with  the  two  old  squaws  at  Ameras-co- 
gen,  for  Hakins  and  Worumbos  to  come  there  in 
fourteen  days,  if  they  had  a  mind  to  hear  of  their 
wives  and  children.     They  did  soon  after  come 
with  a  flag  of  truce  to  said  Wells'  garrison,  and 
had  leave  to  come  in;  and  more  appearing  came 
in,  to  the  number  of  eight,  without  any  terms,  be 
ing   all  Chief  Sachems;  and  were  very  glad  to 
hear  of  the  women  and  children,  viz.  Hakins  and 
14.* 


162  WAR    WITH    THE 

Worumbos'  wives  and  children;  who  all  said 
three  several  times  that  they  would  never  fight 
against  the  English  any  more,  for  the  French 
made  fools  of  them.  They  saying  as  they  did, 
the  said  Andros  let  them  go.  Maj.  Church  hav 
ing  come  to  Piscataqua,  and  two  of  his  transports 
having  the  small-pox  on  board,  and  several  of  his 
men  having  got  great  colds  by  their  hard  service, 
pretended  they  were  going  to  have  the  small-pox, 
thinking  by  that  means  to  be  sent  home  speedily. 
The  Major  being  willing  to  try  them,  went  to  the 
gentlemen  there,  and  desired  them  to  provide  a 
house,  for  some  of  his  men  expected  they  should 
have  the  small-pox;  who  readily  did,  and  told  him, 
that  the  people  belonging  to  it  were  just  recover 
ed  of  the  small-pox,  and  had  been  all  at  meeting, 
&,c.  The  Major  returning  to  his  Officers  order 
ed  them  to  draw  out  all  their  men  that  were  going 
to  have  the  small-pox,  for  he  had  provided  an  hos 
pital  for  them.  So  they  drew  out  17  men,  that 
bad,  as  they  said,  all  the  symptoms  of  the  small 
pox;  he  ordered  them  all  to  follow  him,  and  com 
ing  to  the  house,  he  asked  them  how  they  liked 
it?  .  They  said  very  well.  Then  he  told  them  that 
the  people  in  the  said  house  had  all  had  the  small 
pox,  and  were  recovered;  .and  that  if  they  went 
in  they  must  not  come  out  till  they  all  had  it. 
Whereupon  they  all  presently  began  to  grow  bet 
ter,  and  to  make  excuses,  except  one  man  who 
desired  to  stay  out  till  night,  before  he  went  in. 
The  Major  went  to  the  gentlemen,  told  them, 
that  one  thing  more  would  work  a  perfect  cure 
upon  his  men;  which  was  to  let  them  go  home. 
Which  did  work  a  cure  upon  all,  except  one,  and 
4ie  had  not  the  small-pox.  So  he  ordered  the 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  163 

plunder  should  be  divided  forthwith,  and  sent  away 
all  the  Plymouth  forces.     But  the  gentlemen  there 
desired  him  to  stay,  and  they  would  be  assisting 
to  him  in  raising  new  forces,  to  the  number  of 
what  was  sent  away;  and  that  they  would  send  to 
Boston  for  provisions;  which  they  did,  and  sent 
Capt.  Plaisted  to  the  Governor  and  Council  at 
Boston.     And  in  the  mean  time  the  Major  with 
those  gentlemen  went  into  all  those  parts  and  rais 
ed  a  sufficient  number  of  men,  both  Officers  and 
soldiers;  who  all  met  at  the  bank  on  the  same  day 
that  Capt.  Plaisted  returned  from  Boston;  whose 
return  from  the  Boston  gentlemen  was,  that  the 
Canada  expedition  had  drained  them  so  that  they 
could  do  no  more.     vSo  that  Maj.  Church,  not 
withstanding  he  had  been  at  considerable  expenses 
in  raising  said  forces  to  serve  his  King  and  coun 
try,  was  obliged  to  give  them  a  treat  and  dismiss 
them.     Taking  his  leave  of  them  came  home  to 
Boston,  in  the  Mary  sloop,  Mr.  Alden  master, 
and  Capt.  Converse  with  him,  on  a  Saturday;  and 
waiting  upon  the  Governor  and  some  of  the  men 
of  Boston,  they  looked  very  strange  upon  them, 
which  not  only  troubled  them,  but  put  them   in 
some  consternation  what  the  matter  should  be,  that 
after  so  much  toil  and  hard  service  could  not  have 
so  much  as  one  pleasant  word,  nor  any  money  in 
their  pockets;  for  Maj.    Church  had  but  eight 
pence  left,  and  Capt.  Converse  none,  as  he  said 
afterwards.     Maj.  Church  seeing  two  gentlemen 
which  he  knew  had  money,  asked  them  to  lend 
him  forty  shillings,  telling  them  his  necessity. 
Yet  they  refused.     So  being  bare  of  money  was 
obliged  to  lodge  at  Mr.    Alden's  three  nights. 
The  next  Tuesday  morning  Capt.  Converse  came 


164  WAR    WITH    THE 

to  him,  they  not  knowing  each  other's  circumstan 
ces  as  yet,  and  said  he  would  walk  with  him  out 
of  town.  So  coming  near  Pollard's  at  the  south 
end,  they  had  some  discourse;  thought  that  it  was 
very  hard  that  they  should  part  with  dry  lips. 
Maj.  Church  told  Capt.  Converse  that  he  had  but 
eight  pence  left,  and  could  not  borrow  any  money 
to  carry  him  home.  And  the  said  Converse  said, 
that  he  had  not  a  penny  left,  so  they  were  oblig 
ed  to  part  without  going  to  Pollard's.  The  said 
Capt.  Converse  returned  back  into  town,  and  the 
said  Church  went  over  to  Roxbury.  At  the  tav 
ern  he  met  with  Stephen  Braton,  of  Rhode-Isl 
and,  a  drover,  who  wras  glad  to  see  him,  and  he 
as  glad  to  see  his  neighbour.  Whereupon  Maj. 
Church  called  for  an  eight-penny  tankard  of  drink, 
and  let  the  said  Braton  know  his  circumstances, 
asked  him  whether  he  would  lend  him  forty  shill 
ings?  He  answered,  "  Yes,  forty  pounds,  if  you 
want  it."  So  he  thanked  him,  and  said,  he  would 
have  but  forty  shillings,  which  he  freely  lent  him. 
And  presently  after  Mr.  Church  was  told  that  his 
brother  Caleb  Church,  of  Watertown,was  coming 
with  a  spare  horse  for  him,  having  heard  the  night 
before  that  his  brother  was  come  in;  by  which 
means  the  said  Maj.  Church  got  home.  And  for 
all  his  travel  and  expenses  in  raising  soldiers,  and 
service  done,  never  had  but  fourteen  pounds  of 
Plymouth  gentlemen,  and  not  a  p  nny  of  Boston, 
notwithstanding  he  had  worn  out  all  his  clothes, 
and  run  himself  in  debt,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to 
sell  half  a  share  of  land  in  Tiverton,  for  about 
sixty  pounds,  which  is  now  worth  three  hundred 
pounds  more  arid  above  what  he  had. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  165 

Having  not  been  at  home  long  before  he  found 
out  the  reason  why  Boston  gentlemen  looked  so 
disaffected  on  him;  as  you  may  see  by  the  sequel 
of  two  letters  Maj.  Church  sent  to  the  gentlemen 
in  the  Eastward  parts;  which  are  as  folio weth. 

"Bristol,  November  27,  1690. 
"  WORTHY  GENTLEMEN, 

"  According  to  my  promise  when  with 
you  last,  I  waited  upon  the  Governor  at  Boston 
on  Saturday,  Capt.  Converse  being  with  me. 
The  Governor  informed  us  that  the  Council  were 
to  meet  on  the  Monday  following  in  the  afternoon, 
at  which  time  we  both  there  waited  upon  them, 
and  gave  them  an  account  of  the  state  of  your 
country,  and  great  necessities.  They  informed 
us,  that  their  General  Court  was  to  convene  the 
Wednesday  following,  at  which  time  they  would 
debate  and  consider  of  the  matter.  Myself  being 
bound  home,  Capt.  Converse  was  ordered  to  wait 
upon  them,  and  bring  you  their  resolves.  I  then 
took  notice  of  the  Council  that  they  looked  upon 
me  with  an  ill  aspect,  not  judging  me  worthy  to 
receive  thanks  for  the  service  I  had  done  in  your 
parts;  nor  as  much  as  asked  me  whether  I  wanted 
money  to  bear  my  expences,  or  a  horse  to  carry 
me  home.  But  I  was  forced,  for  want  of  money, 
being  far  from  friends,  to  go  to  Roxbury  on  foot; 
but  meeting  there  with  a  Rhode-Island  gentleman, 
acquainted  him  of  my  wants,  who  tendered  me 
ten  pounds,  whereby  I  was  accommodated  for  my 
journey  home.  And  being  come  home,  I  went  to 
the  minister  of  our  town,  and  gave  him  an  account 
of  the  transactions  of  the  great  affairs  I  had  been 
employed  in,  and  the  great  favour  God  was  pleas- 


166  WAR    WITH    THE 

ed  to  show  me,  and  my  company,  and  the  benefit 
I  hoped  would  accrue  to  yourselves;  and  desired 
him  to  return  publick  thanks;  but  at  the  same  in 
terim  of  time  a  paper  was  presented  unto  him  from 
a  Court  of  Plymouth,  which  was  holden  before  I 
came  home,  to  command  a  day  of  humiliation 
through  the  whole  government,  because  of  the 
frown  of  God  upon  those  forces  sent  under  my 
command,  and  the  ill  success  we  had,  for  want  of 
good  conduct.  All  which  was  caused  by  those 
false  reports  which  were  posted  home  by  those  ill 
affected  Officers  that  were  under  my  conduct;  es 
pecially  one,  which  yourselves  very  well  know, 
who  had  the  advantage  of  being  at  home  a  week 
before  me,  being  sick  of  action,  and  wanting  the 
advantage  to  be  at  the  bank,  which  he  was  every 
day  mindful  of  more  than  fighting  the  enemy  in 
their  own  country. 

"  After  I  came  home,  being  informed  of  a  Gen 
eral  Court  at  Plymouth,  and  not  forgetting  my 
faithful  promise  to  you,  and  the  duty  I  lay  under, 
I  went  thither.  Where  waiting  upon  them,  I 
gave  them  an  account  of  my  Eastward  transac 
tions,  and  made  them  sensible  of  the  falseness  of 
those  reports  that  were  posted  to  them  by  ill  hands, 
and  found  some  small  favourable  acceptance  with 
them;  so  far  that  I  was  credited.  I  presented 
your  thanks  to  them  for  their  seasonably  sending 
those  forces  to  relieve  you,  of  the  expense  and 
charge  they  had  been  at;  which  thanks  they  grate 
fully  received;  and  said  a  few  lines  from  your 
selves  would  have  been  well  accepted.  I  then 
gave  them  an  account  of  your  great  necessities, 
by  being  imprisoned  in  your  garrisons,  and  the 
great  mischief  that  would  attend  the  public  con- 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  167 

cerns  of  this  country  by  the  loss  of  their  Majes 
ties'  interest,  and  so  much  good  estate  of  yours 
and  your  neighbours,  as  doubtless  would  be,  on 
the  deserting  of  your  town.  I  then  moved  for  a 
free  contribution  for  your  relief,  which  they  with 
great  forwardness  promoted;  and  then  ordered  a 
day  of  thanksgiving  through  the  government  upon 
the  twenty-sixth  day  of  this  instant.  Upon  which 
day  a  collection  was  ordered  for  your  relief,  and 
the  places  near  adjacent,  in  every  respective  town 
in  this  government;  and  for  the  good  management 
of  it  that  it  might  be  safely  conveyed  unto  your 
hands,  they  appointed  a  man  in  each  county  for 
the  receipt  and  conveyance  thereof.  The  persons 
nominated  and  accepted  thereof,  are,  for  the 
county  of  Plymouth,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Thomas,  of 
Marshfield;  for  the  county  of  Barnstable,  Capt. 
Joseph  Lathrop,  of  Barnstable  ;  and  for  the 
county  of  Bristol,  myself.  Which  when  gathered, 
you  will  have  a  particular  account  from  each  per 
son,  with  orders  of  advice  how  it  may  be  disposed 
of  for  your  best  advantage,  with  a  copy  of  the 
Court's  order.  The  gentlemen  the  effects  are  to 
be  sent  to,  are  yourselves  that  I  now  write  to, 
viz.  John  Wheelwright,  Esq.  Capt.  John  Little- 
field,  and  Lieut.  Joseph  Story.  I  deferred  writ 
ing,  expecting  every  day  to  hear  from  you  con 
cerning  the  Indians,  coming  to  treat  about  their 
prisoners  that  we  had  taken.  The  discourse  I 
made  with  them  at  Ameras-cogen,  I  knew  would 
have  that  effect  as  to  bring  them  to  a  treaty,  which 
I  would  have  thought  myself  happy  to  have  been 
improved  in,  knowing  that  it  would  have  made 
much  for  your  good.  But  no  intelligence  coming 
to  me  from  any  gentlemen  in  your  parts,  and  hear- 


168  WAR    WITH    THE 

ing  nothing  but  by  accident,  and  that  in  the  latter 
end  of  the  week  by  some  of  ours  coming  from  Bos 
ton,  informed  me  that  the  Indians  had  come  into 
your  town  to  seek  for  peace;  and  that  there  was 
to  be  a  treaty  speedily;  but  the  time  they  knew 
not.  I  took  my  horse,  and  upon  the  Monday  set 
out  for  Boston,  expecting  the  treaty  had  been  at 
your  town,  as  rationally  it  should;  but  on  Tues 
day  night  coming  to  Boston,  I  there  met  with 
Captain  Elisha  Andros,  who  informed  me  that 
the  place  of  treaty  was  Sacaty-hock,*  and  that 
Capt.  Alden  was  gone  from  Boston  four  days  be 
fore  I  came  there,  and  had  carried  all  the  Indian 
prisoners  with  him;  and  that  all  the  forces  were 
drawn  away  out  of  your  parts,  except  twelve  men 
in  your  town,  and  twelve  in  Piscataqua,  which 
news  did  so  amuse  me,  to  see,  that  wisdom  was 
taken  from  the  wise,  and  such  imprudence  in 
their  actions,  as  to  be  deluded  by  Indians.  To 
have  a  treaty  so  far  from  any  English  town,  and 
to  draw  off  the  forces  upon  what  pretence  soever, 
to  me  looks  very  ill.  My  fear  i$  that  they  will 
deliver  those  we  have  taken,  which,  if  kept,  would 
have  been  greatly  for  your  security,  in  keeping 
them  in  awe,  and  preventing  them  from  doing  any 
hostile  action  or  mischief.  I  knowing  that  the 
English  being  abroad  are  very  earnest  to  go  home, 
and  the  Indians  are  very  tedious  in  their  discours 
es;  and  by  that  means  will  have  an  advantage  to 
have  their  captives  at  very  low  rates,  to  your  great 
damage.  Gentlemen,  as  to  Rhode-Island,  I  have 
not  concerned  myself  as  to  any  relief  for  you, 
having  nothing  in  writing  to  show  to  them;  yet, 

*  Sagadehock.     On  the  south  side  of  Kennebeck  river, 
twenty  miles  S.  W.  of  Pemmaquid. — HUBBARD. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  169 

upon  discourse  with  some  gentlemen  there,  they 
have  signified  a  great  forwardness  to  promote  such 
a  thing.      I  lying    under   great   reflections  from 
some  of  yours  in  the  Eastward  parts,  that  I  was 
a  very  covetuous  person,  and  came  there  to  en 
rich  myself,  and  that  I  killed  their  cattle  and  bar 
relled  them  up,  and  sent  them  to  Boston,  and  sold 
them  for  plunder,  and  made  money  to  put  into  my 
own  pocket;  and  the  owners  of  them  being  poof 
people  begged  for  the  hides  and  tallow,  with  tears 
in  their  eyes;  and  that  I  was  so  cruel  as  to  deny 
them!   which  makes  me  judge  myself  incapable  to 
serve  you  in  that  matter  ;    yet,  I  do  assure  you, 
that  the  people  are  very  charitable  at  the  island, 
and  forward  in  such  good  actions;  and  therefore, 
I  advise  you  to  desire  some  good  substantial  per 
son  to  take  the  management  of  it,  and  write  to 
the  government  there,  which  I  know  will  not  be 
labour  lost.     As  for  what  I  am  accused  of,  you 
all  can  witness  to  the  contrary,  and  I  should  take 
it  very  kindly  from  you  to  do  me  that  just  right, 
as  to  vindicate  my  reputation;  for  the  wise  man 
says,   "  A  good  name  is  as  precious  ointment. ?* 
When  I  hear  of  the  effects  of  the  treaty,  and  have 
an  account  of  this  contribution,  I  intend  again  to 
write  to  you,  being  very  desirous,  and  should  think 
myself  very  happy,  to  be  favoured  with  a  few  lines 
from  yourself,  or  any  gentleman  in  the  Eastward 
parts.     Thus   leaving  you  to  the  protection  and 
guidance  of  the  great  God  of  heaven  arid  earth, 
who  is  able  to  protect  and  supply  you  in  your  great 
difficulties,  and  to  give  you  deliverance  in  his  own 
due  time.      I  remain,  Gentlemen,  your  most  as 
sured  friend,  to  serve  you  to  my  utmost  power. 
«  BENJAMIN  CHURCH." 


170  WAR    WITH    THE 

"Postscript.  Esquire  Wheelwright,  Sir,  I 
entreat  you,  after  your,  perusal  of  these  lines,  to 
communicate  the  same  to  Capt.  John  Littlefield, 
Lieut.  Joseph  Story,  and  to  any  other  gentle 
men,  as  in  your  judgement  you  see  fit.  With  the 
tenders  of  my  respects  to  you,  &c.  and  to  Maj. 
Vaughan,  and  his  good  Lady  and  family.  To 
Capt.  Fryer  and  good  Mrs.  Fryer,  with  hearty 
thanks  for  their  kindness  whilst  in  those  parts, 
and  good  entertainment  from  them.  My  kind 
respects  to  Maj.  Frost,  Capt.  Walton,  Lieut. 
Honeywel,  and  my  very  good  friend  little  Lieut. 
Plaisted;  with  due  respects  to  all  gentlemen,  my 
friends  in  the  Eastward  parts,  as  if  particularly 
named.  Farewell,  B.  C." 

To  MAJOR  PIKE. 

"Bristol,  November  21,  1690. 
"  HONOURED  SIR, 

"THESE  come  to  wait  upon  you,  to  bring 
the  tenders  of  my  hearty  service  to  yourself  and 
lady,  with  due  acknowledgment  of  thankfulness 
for  all  the  kindness  and  favour  I  received  from  you 
in  the  Eastward  parts,  when  with  you.  Since 
I  came  from  those  parts,  I  am  informed,  by  Capt. 
Andros,  that  yourself  and  most  all  the  forces  are 
drawn  off  from  the  Eastward  parts.  I  admire  at 
it,  considering  that  they  had  so  low  esteem  of 
what  was  done,  that  they  can  apprehend  the  East 
ward  parts  so  safe  before  the  enemy  were  brought 
into  better  subjection.  I  was  in  hopes,  when  I 
came  from  ther.ce,  that  those  who  wrere  so  desir 
ous  to  have  my  room  would  have  been  very  brisk 
in  my  absence,  to  have  gotten  themselves  some 
honour,  which  they  very  much  gaped  after,  or  eke 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  171 

they  would  not  have  spread  so  many  false  reports 
to  defame  me,  which  had  I  have  known,  before  I 
left  the  bank,  I  would  have  had  satisfaction  of 
them.  Your  honour  was  pleased  to  give  me  some 
small  account,  before  I  left  the  bank,  of  some  things 
that  were  ill  represented  to  you,  concerning  the 
Eastward  expedition,  which  being  rolled  home 
like  a  snow-ball  through  both  colonies,  were  got  to 
such  a  bigness  that  it  overshadowed  me  from  the 
influence  of  all  comfort,  or  good  acceptance  among 
my  friends  in  my  journey  homeward.  But 
through  God's  goodness  I  am  come  home,  finding- 
all  well,  and  myself  in  good  health,  hoping  that 
those  reports  will  do  me  the  favour,  to  quit  me 
from  all  other  public  actions;  that  so  I  may  the 
more  peaceably  and  quietly  wait  upon  God,  and 
be  a  comfort  to  my  own  family,  in  this  dark  time 
of  trouble;  being  as  one  hid,  till  his  indignation  is 
overpast.  I  shall  take  it  as  a  great  favour  to  hear 
of  your  welfare;  subscribing  myself,  as  I  am,  Sir, 
"  Your  most  assured  friend  and  servant, 
"BENJAMIN  CHURCH." 

Maj.  Church  did  receive,  after  this,  answers  to 
his  letters,  but  hath  lost  them,  except  it  be  a  let 
ter  from  several  of  those  gentlemen  in  those  parts, 
in  June  following,  which  is  as  followeth. 

"Portsmouth,  June  29,  1691 
"MAJ.  BENJ.  CHURCH,  SIR, 

"  YOUR  former  readiness  to  expose 
yourself  in  the  service  of  the  country,  against  the 
common  enemy;  and  particularly  the  late  obliga 
tions  you  have  laid  upon  us,  in  these  Eastern  parts, 
leaves  us  under  a  deep  and  grateful  sense  for  your 
fervour  therein.  And  for  as  much  as  you  were  pleas- 


172  WAR    WITH    THE 

ed,  when  last  here,  to  signify  your  ready  inclina 
tion  to  further  service  of  this  kind,  if  occasion 
should  call  for  it :  We  therefore  presume  confi 
dently  to  promise  ourselves  compliance  according 
ly  ;  and  have  sent  this  messenger  on  purpose  to 
you,  to  let  you  know,  that  notwithstanding  the 
late  overture  of  peace,  the  enemy  have  proved 
themselves  as  perfidious  as  ever,  and  are  almost 
daily  killing  and  destroying,  upon  all  our  frontiers. 
The  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Massachusetts 
have  been  pleased  to  order  the  raising  of  150  men, 
to  be  forthwith  despatched  into  those  parts  ;  and, 
as  we  understand,  have  written  to  your  Governor 
and  Council  of  Plymouth  for  further  assistance, 
which  we  pray  you  to  promote,  hoping  if  you  can 
obtain  about  200  men,  English  and  Indians,  to  vi 
sit  them  at  some  of  their  head  quarters,  up  Ken- 
riebeck  river,  or  elsewhere,  which,  for  want  of 
necessaries,  was  omitted  last  year,  it  may  be  of 
great  advantage  to  us.  We  offer  nothing  of  ad 
vice  as  to  what  methods  are  most  proper  to  be  ta 
ken  in  this  affair  ;  your  acquaintance  with  our  cir 
cumstances,  as  well  as  the  enemy's,  will  direct 
you  therein.  We  leave  the  conduct  thereof  to 
your  own  discretion  ;  but  that  the  want  of  provi 
sion,  &c.  may  be  no  remora  to  your  motion,  you 
may  please  to  know  Mr.  Gealford,  one  of  our 
principal  inhabitants,  now  residing  in  Boston,  hath 
promised  to  take  care  to  supply,  to  the  value  of 
two  or  three  hundred  pounds,  if  occasion  may  re 
quire.  We  pray  a  few  lines  by  the  bearer  to  give 
us  a  prospect  of  what  we  may  expect  for  our  fur 
ther  encouragement;  and  remain, 

"  Sir,  your  obliged  friends  and  servants, 
"  Will.  Vaughan,  Richard  Martyn,  Nathaniel 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  173 

Fryer,  William  Fernald,  Francis  Hooke,  Charles 
Frost,  John  Wincol,  Robert  Elliott." 

A  true  copy  of  the  original  letter  ;  which  letter 
was  presented  to  me  by  Captain  Hatch,  who  came 
express. 

Major  Church  sent  them  his  answer  ;  the  con 
tents  whereof  were,  that  he  had  gone  often  enough 
for  nothing  ;  and  especially  to  be  ill  treated  with 
scandals  and  false  reports,  when  last  out,  which 
he  could  not  forget.  And  signified  to  them,  that 
doubtless  some  among  them  thought  they  could 
do  without  him,  &,c.  And  to  make  short  of  it, 
did  go  out,  and  meeting  with  the  enemy  at  Ma- 
quait,  were  most  shamefully  beaten,  as  I  have 
been  informed. 


THIRD  EXPEDITION  EAST. 

THIS  was  in  the  year  1692.     In  the  time  of 
Sir  William  Phip's*  government,  Maj.  Walley 

*  Governor  Phips  "  was  a  New-England  man,"  born  at 
Pernaquid,  in  1650  ;  being,  as  we  are  told,  a  younger  son 
among  twenty-six  children,  of  whom  twenty-one  were  sons. 
By  profession  he  was  a  shipcarpenter.  That  business  he 
soon  left,  and  being  an  industrious  and  persevering  man, 
soon  acquired  an  education  competent  for  the  discharge  of 
common  affairs,  and  then  went  to  sea.  On  hearing  of  a 
Spanish  vessel's  being  wrecked  near  the  Bahamas,  proceeded 
to  England,  and  gave  so  flattering  an  account  of  its  value, 
and  the  practicability  of  obtainining  it,  that  he  was  des 
patched  in  one  of  the  King's  ships  in  search  of  it  ;  but  re 
turned  without  success.  Soon  after,  the  Duke  of  Albe- 
marl  sent  him  with  two  ships  on  the  same  business,  and  he 
succeeded  in  bringing  from  the  wreck  three  hundred  thou 
sand  pounds,  of  which  he  received  for  his  share  sixteen 
thousand.  The  King  conferred  on  him  the  order  of  knight 
hood,  and  afterward  appointed  him  Captain  General,  and 


174  WAR    WITH     THE 

being  at  Boston,  was  requested  by  his  Excellency 
to  treat  with  Maj.  Church  about  going  East  with 
him.  31  aj.  W  alley  coming  home,  did  as  desired  ; 
and  to  encourage  the  said  Maj.  Church,  told  him, 
that  now  was  the  time  to  have  recompence  for  his 
former  great  expenses  ;  saying  also,  that  the  coun 
try  could  not  give  him  less  than  two  or  three  hun 
dred  pounds.  So  upon  his  Excellency's  request, 
•Maj.  Church  went  down  to  Boston,  and  waited 
upon  him  ;  who  said  he  was  glad  to  see  him,  &c. 
A.nd  after  some  discourse  told  the  said  Church 
that  he  wras  going  East  himself,  and  that  he  should 
be  his  second,  and  in  his  absence  command  all  the 
forces.  And  being  requested  by  his  Excellency 
to  raise  what  volunteers  he  could,  of  his  own  sol 
diers  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  both  English  and 
Indians,  received  his  commission  :  which  is  as  fol 
io  weth. 

Sir  WILLIAM  PHIPS,  Knight,  Captain  General 
and  Governor  in  Chief,  in  and  over  his  Majes 
ty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in 
New-England  : 

To  BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  Gent.  Greeting. 

"  Reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  your 

loyalty,  courage,  and  good  conduct,  I  do  by  these 

presents  constitute   and  appoint  you  to  be  Major 

Governor  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
He  arrived  in  New-England  in  1690.  Gov.  Hutchinson 
says,  "  he  had  the  character  of  an  honest  man,  but  his  tem 
per  was  hasty,  and  being  a  stout  man,  would  use  his  cane 
and  fist  after  he  was  Governor."  We  have  no  need  of  ad 
ding  what  Douglass  says  of  Gov.  Phips,  that  "  he  was  a 
weak  governor,"  &c.  when  we  are  told  that  he  joined  the  ac 
cusers  of  the  witch  age  of  Salem.  He  was  sent  for  to  answer 
to  some  complaints  in  Englarid,flbut  was  cleared  ;  and  when 
about  to  return  to  his  government,  fell  sick  and  died,  1894. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  175 

of  the  several  companies  of  militia,  detached  for 
their  Majesties  service  against  their  French  and 
Indian  enemies.  You  are  therefore  authorized 
and  required  in  their  Majesties'  names,  to  dis 
charge  the  duty  of  a  Major,  by  leading,  ordering, 
and  exercising  the  said  several  companies  in  arms, 
both  inferior  officers  and  soldiers,  keeping  them  in 
good  order  and  discipline,  commanding  them  to 
obey  you  as  their  Major  ;  and  diligently  to  intend 
t -•:•<:  said  service,  for  the  prosecuting,  pursuing, 
killing  and  destroying  of  the  said  common  enemy. 
And  yourself  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders 
and  directions  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time  re 
ceive  from  myself,  according  to  the  rules  and  dis 
cipline  of  war,  pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in  you 
for  their  Majesties'  service.  Given  under  my  hand 
and  seal  at  Boston,  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  July, 
1692.  In  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  So 
vereign  Lord  and  Lady  William  and  Mary,  by 
the  Grace  of  God,  King  and  Queen  of  England, 
Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  defender  of  the 
faith,  &c. 

WILLIAM  PHIPS 
By  His  Excellency's  command, 
ISAAC  ADDINGTON,*  Sec. 

*  Mr.  Addington  was  one  of  those,  who  took  a  very  ac 
tive  part  in  opposition  to  the  tyrannical  measures  of  Sir 
Edmund  Andros.  On  the  accession  of  William  and  Mar/ 
he  was  appointed  Secretary,  which  office  he  discharged  with 
integrity  and  approbation  for  some  time.  It  seems  that  in 
those  days  as  well  as  at  the  present,  office  seekers  were  not 
entirely  unknown,  but  "  the  emoluments  of  that  office  were 
small,  compared  with  the  duty,  and  so  he  was  in  less  danger 
of  a  competitor."  He  belonged  to  the  council  for  many- 
years,  and  was  respected  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  wis- 
doin  and  industry.  He  died  in  J  7 14. 


176  WAR    WITH    THE 

Returning  home  to  the  county  aforesaid,  he 
soon  raised  a  sufficient  number  of  volunteers,  both 
English  and  Indians,  and  officers  suitable  to  com 
mand  them,  and  marched  them  down  to  Boston. 
But  there  was  one  thing  I  would  just  mention, 
which  was,  that  Major  Church  being  short  of  .mo 
ney,  was  forced  to  borrow  six  pounds  in  money  of 
Lieut.  Woodman,  in  Litlle-Compton,  to  distri 
bute  by  a  shilling,  and  a  bit  at  a  time  to  the  In 
dian  soldiers ;  who,  without  such  allurements, 
would  not  have  marched  to  Boston.  This  money 
Maj.  Church  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  William 
Fobes,  who  was  going  out  their  commissary  in 
that  service,  who  was  ordered  to  keep  a  just  ac- 
eount  of  what  each  Indian  had,  so  that  it  might 
be  deducted  out  of  his  wages  at  their  return  home. 
Coming  to  Boston,  his  Excellency  having  got 
things  in  readiness,  they  embarked  on  board  their 
transports,  his  Excellency  going  in  person  with 
them,  being  bound  to  Pemequid.  In  their  way 
they  stopped  at  Casco,  and  buried  the  bones  of 
the  dead  people  there,  and  took  off  the  great  guns 
that  were  there  ;  then  went  to  Pemequid.  Com 
ing  there  his  Excellency  asked  Maj.  Church  to 
go  ashore  and  give  his  judgment  about  erecting  a 
fort  there.  He  answered,  that  his  genius  did  not 
incline  that  way,  for  he  never  had  any  value  for 
them,  being  only  nests  for  destructions.  His  Ex 
cellency  said  he  had  a  special  order  from  their 
Majesties'  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  to 
erect  a  fort  there  :  then  they  went  ashore  and 
§pent  some  time  in  the  projection  thereof.  His 
Excellency  told  Maj.  Church  that  he  might  take 
all  the  forces  except  one  company  to  stay  with 
him,  and  work  about  the  fort ;  the  Major  answer- 


EASTERN  INDIANS.  177 

ed,  that  if  his  Excellency  pleased  he  might  keep 
two  companies  with  him,  and  he  would  go  with 
the  rest  to  Penobscot,  and  places  adjacent  ;  which 
his  Excellency  did,  and  gave  Maj.  Church  his  or 
ders,  which  are  as  followeth. 
By  His  Excellency  Sir  WILLIAM  PHIPS, 

Knight,    Captain    General    and   Governor   in 

Chief,  in  and  over  their  Majesties'   Province  of 

the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England,  &c. 
Instructions  for  Maj.  Benjamin  Church. 

"  Whereas  you  are  Major,  and  so  chief  officer 
of  a  body  of  men  detached  out  of  the  militia,  ap 
pointed  for  an  expedition  against  the  French  and 
Indian  enemies  ;  you  are  duly  to  observe  the  fol 
lowing  instructions  : 

'  Imprimis,  You  are  to  take  care  that  the  wor 
ship  of  God  be  duly  and  constantly  maintained 
and  kept  up  among  you  ;  and  to  suffer  no  swearing, 
cursing,  or  other  profanation  of  the  holy  name  of 
God  ;  and,  as  much  as  in  you  lies,  to  deter  and 
hinder  all  other  vices  among  your  soldiers. 

"  2dly,  You  are  to  proceed  with  the  soldiers 
under  your  command,  to  Penobscot,  and,  with 
what  privacy  and  undiscoverable  methods  you  can, 
there  to  land  your  men,  and  take  the  best  mea 
sures  to  surprise  the  enemy. 

"  3dly,  You  are  by  killing,  destroying,  and  all 
other  means  possible,  to  endeavour  the  destruction 
of  the  enemy,  in  pursuance  whereof,  being  satis 
fied  of  your  courage  and  conduct,  I  leave  the  same 
to  your  discretion. 

"  4thly,  You  are  to  endeavour  the  taking  what 
captives  you  can,  either  men,  women,  or  children, 
and  the  same  safely  to  keep  and  convey  them 
unto  me. 


178  WAR    WITH    THE 

"  5thly,  Since  it  is  not  possible  to  judge  how 
affairs  may  be  circumstanced  with  you  there,  I 
shall  therefore  not  limit  your  return,  but  leave  it 
to  your  prudence,  only  that  you  make  no  longer 
stay  than  you  can  improve  for  advantage  against 
the  enemy,  or  may  reasonably  hope  for  the  same. 

"  Gthly,  You  are  also  to  take  care  and  be  very 
industrious  by  all  possible  means  to  find  out  and 
destroy  all  the  enemy's  corn,  and  other  provisions 
in  all  places  where  you  can  come  at  the  same. 

"  7thly,  You  are  to  return  from  Penobscot  and 
those  Eastern  parts,  to  make  all  despatch  hence 
for  Kennebeck  river,  and  the  places  adjacent,  and 
there  prosecute  all  advantages  against  the  enemy 
as  aforesaid. 

8thly,  If  any  soldier,  officer,  or  other  shall  be 
disobedient  to  you  as  their  Commander  in  Chief,  or 
other  superior  officer,  or  make,  or  cause  any  mu 
tiny,  commit  other  offences  or  disorders,  you  shall 
call  a  council  of  war  among  your  officers,  and  hav 
ing  tried  him  or  them  so  offending,  inflict  such 
punishment  as  the  merit  of  the  offence  requires, 
death  only  excepted,  which,  if  any  shall  deserve, 
3*ou  are  to  secure  the  person,  and  signify  the  crime 
unto  me  by  the  first  opportunity. 

<;  Given  under  my  hand,  this  llth  day  of  Au 
gust,  1692.  WILLIAM  PHIPS." 

Then  the  Major  and  his  forces  embarked,  and 
made  the  best  of  their  way  to  Penobscot.  Com 
ing  to  an  island  in  those  parts  in  the  evening,  he 
landed  his  forces  at  one  end  of  the  said  island;  then 
lie  took  part  of  his  forces,  and  moved  toward  day 
to  the  other  end  of  the  said  island,  where  they 
found  two  Frenchmen,  and  their  families,  one  or 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  179 

both  of  whom  had  Indian  women  for  their  wives, 
and  had  children  by  them.  The  Major  presently 
examining  the  Frenchmen,  asked  where  the  In 
dians  were?  They  told  him,  that  there  were  a 
great  company  of  them  upon  an  island  just  by; 
and  showing  him  the  island,  presently  discovered 
several  of  them.  Major  Church  and  his  forces 
still  keeping  undiscovered  asked  the  Frenchmen 
where  their  passing  place  was?  which  they  readi 
ly  showed  them;  so  presently  they  placed  an  am 
buscade  to  take  any  that  should  come  over.  Then 
sent  orders  for  all  the  rest  of  the  forces  to  come; 
sending  them  an  account  of  what  he  had  seen  and 
met  with;  strictly  charging  them  to  keep  them 
selves  undiscovered  by  the  enemy.  The  ambus 
cade  did  not  lie  long  before  an  Indian  man  and 
woman  came  over  in  a  canoe,  to  the  place  for  land 
ing,  where  the  ambuscade  was  laid,  who  hauled 
up  their  canoe,  and  came  right  into  the  hands  of 
our  ambuscade,  who  so  suddenly  surprised  them 
that  they  could  not  give  any  notice  to  the  others 
from  whence  they  came.  The  Major  ordering 
that  none  of  his  should  offer  to  meddle  with  the 
canoe,  lest  they  should  be  discovered,  hoping  to 
take  the  most  of  them  if  his  forces  came  as  order^ 
ed,  he  expecting  them  to  come  as  directed;  but, 
the  first  news  he  had  of  them  was,  That  they  were 
all  coming,  though  not  privately,  as  ordered; 
but  the  vessels  fair  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  which 
soon  put  them  all  to  flight,  and  our  forces  not  hav 
ing  boats  suitable  to  pursue  them,  they  got  all 
away  in  their  canoes,  and  which  caused  Major 
Church  to  say,  he  would  never  go  out  again  with 
out  a  sufficient  number  of  whale-boats  which,  for 
want  of,  was  the  ruin  of  that  action.  Then  I\la- 


180  WAR    WITH    THE 

jor  Church,  according  to  his  instructions,  ranged 
all  those  parts,  to  find  all  their  corn,  and  carried 
aboard  their  vessels  what  he  thought  convenient, 
and  destroyed  the  rest.  Also  finding  considera 
ble  quantities  of  plunder,  viz.  beaver,  moose-skins, 
&c.  Having  done  what  service  they  could  in 
those  parts,  he  returned  back  to  his  Excellency  at 
Pemequid;  where  being  come,  staid  not  long, 
they  being  short  of  bread.  His  Excsllency  in 
tended  going  home  for  Boston,  for  more  provis 
ions;  but  before  going,  went  with  Major  Church 
and  his  forces  to  Kennebeck  river,  and  coming 
there,  gave  him  further  orders,  which  are  as  fol- 
loweth. 

BY  HIS  EXCELLENCY  THE  GOVERNOR. 

"  To  MAJOR  BENJAMIN  CHURCH, 

u  You  having  already  received  former  instruc 
tions,  are  now  further  to  proceed  with  the  sold 
iers  under  your  command  for  Kennebeck  River, 
and  the  places  adjacent,  and  use  your  utmost  en 
deavours  to  kill,  destroy,  and  take  captive  the 
French  and  Indian  enemies  wheresoever  you  shall 
find  any  of  them;  and  at  your  return  to  Pemequid, 
which  you  are  to  do  as  soon  as  you  can  conven 
iently;  after  your  best  endeavour  done  against  the 
enemy,  and  having  destroyed  their  corn  and  other 
provisions,  you  are  to  stay  with  all  your  soldiers 
and  officers,  and  set  them  at  work  on  the  fort,  and 
make  what  despatch  you  can  in  that  business,  stay- 
there  until  my  further  order. 

WILLIAM  PHIPS." 


EASTERN     INDIANS. 


181 


Then  his  Excellency  taking  leave,  went  for 
Boston,  and  soon  after  Major  Church  and  his 
forces  had  a  smart  fight  with  the  enemy  in  Ken- 
nebeck  river.  They  pursued  them  so  hard  that 
they  left  their  canoes,  and  ran  up  into  the  woods; 
and  still  pursued  them  up  to  their  fort  at  Tacon- 
ock,  which  the  enemy  perceiving,  they  set  fire  to 
their  houses  in  the  fort,  and  ran  away  by  the  light 
of  them,  and  when  Major  Church  came  to  the  said 
fort,  he  found  about  half  their  houses  standing, 
and  the  rest  burnt;  also  found  great  quantities  of 
corn,  put  up  into  Indian  cribs,  which  he  and  his 
forces  destroyed,  as  ordered. 

Having  done  what  service  he  could  in  those 
parts,  returned  to  -Pemequid,*  and  there  employ 
ed  his  forces  according  to  his  instructions.  Being 
out  of  bread,  his  Excellency  not  coming,  Maj. 
Church  was  obliged  to  borrow  bread  of  the  Cap 
tain  of  the  man  of  war  that  was  then  there,  for  all 
the  forces  under  his  command.  At  length  his 
Excellency  came,  but  brought  very  little  bread 
more  than  would  pay  what  was  borrowed  of  the 
man  of  war;  so  that  in  a  short  time  after  Maj, 
Church  with  his  forces,  returned  home  to  Boston, 
and  had  their  wages  for  their  good  service  done. 
Only  one  thing  by  the  way  I  will  just  mention, 
that  is,  about  the  six  pounds  Maj.  Church  bor 
rowed  as  afore-mentioned,  and  put  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Fobes,  who  distributed  the  said  money,  all 
but  thirty  shillings,  to  the  Indian  soldiers,  as  di 
rected,  which  was  deducted  out  of  their  wages, 
and  the  country  had  credit  for  the  same;  and  the 
said  Fobes  kept  the  thirty  shillings  to  himsejf, 

*The  most  northerly  limit  of  New-England. 

16 


WAR    WITH    THE 

which  was  deducted  out  of  his  wages.  Where 
upon  Maj.  W alley  and  Mr.  Fobes  had  some 
words.  In  short,  Maj.  Church  was  obliged  to 
expend  about  six  pounds  of  his  own  money  in 
marching  down  the  forces  both  English  and  In 
dians,  to  Boston,  having  no  drink  allowed  them 
upon  the  road.  So  that  instead  of  Maj.  Church's 
having  the  allowances  afore-mentioned  by  Maj. 
W  alley,  he  was  out  of  pocket  about  twelve  pounds, 
over  and  above  what  he  had;  all  which  had  not 
been,  had  not  his  Excellency  been  gone  out  of  the 
country. 


FOURTH  EXPEDITION  EAST. 

IN  1696  Maj.  Church  being  at  Boston,  and 
belonging  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  sev 
eral  gentlemen  requesting  him  to  go  East  again, 
the  General  Court  having  made  acts  of  encour 
agement,  &,c.  He  told  them,  if  they  would  pro 
vide  whale-boats,  and  other  necessaries  conven 
ient,  he  would.  Being  also  requested  by  the  Gen 
eral  Court,  he  proceeded  to  raise  volunteers,  and 
made  it  his  whole  buisness,  riding  both  East  and 
West  in  our  province  and  Connecticut,  at  great 
charges  and  expenses.  And  in  about  a  month's 
time  he  raised  a  sufficient  number  out  of  those 
parts,  and  marched  them  down  to  Boston,  where 
he  had  the  promise  that  every  thing  should  be 
ready  in  three  weeks  or  a  month's  time,  but  was 
obliged  to  stay  considerably  longer.  Being  now 
at  Boston,  he  received  his  commission  and  instruc 
tions;  which  are  as  folio  we th. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  183 

WILLIAM  STOUGHTON,*  Esq.  Lieuten 
ant  Governor,  and  Commander  in  Chief,  in  and 
over  his  Majesty's  province  of  the  Massachu 
setts  Bay,  in  New-England. 
To  Maj.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  Greeting. 
WHEREAS  there  are  several  companies  raised 
consisting  of  Englishmen  and  Indians,  for  his 
Majesty's  service,  to  go  forth  upon  the  encour 
agement  given  by  the  Great  and  General  Court, 
or  Assembly  of  this  his  Majesty's  province,  con 
vened  at  Boston,  the  27th  of  May,  1696,  to  prose 
cute  the  French  and  Indian  enemy,  &c.  ;  and  you 
having  offered  yourself  to  take  the  command  and 
conduct  of  the  said  several  companies ;  by  vir 
tue  therefore  of  the  power  and  authority  in  and  by 
his  Majesty's  royal  commission  to  me  granted, 
reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  your  loy 
alty,  prudence,  courage  and  good  conduct;  I  do 
by  these  psesents  constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be 
Major  of  the  said  several  companies,  both  Eng 
lishmen  and  Indians,  raised  for  his  Majesty's  ser 
vice  upon  the  encouragement  aforesaid.  You  are 
therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  perform  the 
duty  of  your  place,  by  leading,  ordering,  and  ex 
ercising  the  said  several  companies  in  arms,  both 
inferior  Officers  and  soldiers,  keeping  them  in 
good  order  and  discipline,  commanding  them  to 
obey  you  as  their  Major.  And  yourself  diligent 
ly  to  intend  his  Majesty's  service  for  the  prose- 

*  Mr.  Stoughton  was  born  in  Dorchester,  1632;  graduat 
ed  at  Harvard  College,  1650;  was  an  "  excellent"  preacher. 
And  being  recommended  to  William  and  Mary  by  Dr. 
Mather,  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Governor.  He  believed 
in  witchcraft,  and  was  among  the  oppressors  of  the  accused 
in  the  witch  age  of  Salem.  He  died  a  bachelor,  1702. 


184  WAR    WITH    THE 

cuting,  pursuing,  taking,  killing  or  destroying  the 
said  enemy  by  sea  or  land;  and  to  observe  all  such 
orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall  from  time  to 
time  receive  from  myself,  or  Commander  in  Chief 
for  the  time  being,  according  to  the  rules  and  dis 
cipline  of  war,  pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
you.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at 
Boston,  the  third  day  of  August,  1696,  in  the 
eighth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord 
William  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Eng 
land,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  De 
fender  of  the  Faith,  &c. 

WILLIAM  STOUGHTON. 
By  command  of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  &c. 
ISAAC  ADDINGTON,  Sec'ry. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 
By  the  Right  Honorable  the  Lieutenant  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Chief. 

Instructions  for  Maj.  Benjamin  Church,  Comman 
der  of  the  forces  raised  for  his  Majesty's  ser 
vice,  against  the  French  and  Indian  enemy 
and  rebels. 

PURSUANT  to  the  commission  given  you,  you 
are  to  embark  the  forces  now  furnished  and  equip 
ped  for  his  Majesty's  service  on  the  present  expe 
dition,  to  the  Eastern  parts  of  this  province,  and 
with  them,  and  such  others  as  shall  offer  them 
selves  to  go  forth  on  the  said  service,  to  sail  unto 
Piscataqua,  to  join  ihose  lately  despatched  thither 
for  the  same  expedition,  to  await  your  coming. 
And  with  all  care  and  diligence  to  improve  the 
vessels,  boats  and  men  under  your  command,  in 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  185 

search  for,  prosecution  and  pursuit  of  the  said 
enemy,  at  such  places  where  you  may  be  informed 
of  their  abode  or  resort,  or  where  you  may  proba 
bly  expect  to  find,  or  meet  with  them,  and  take 
all  advantages  against  them  which  Providence 
shall  favour  you  with. 

You  are  not  to  enlist  or  accept  any  soldiers  that 
are  already  in  his  Majesty's  pay,  and  posted  at 
any  town  or  garrison  within  this  province,  without 
special  order  from  myself. 

You  are  to  require  and  give  strict  orders  that 
the  duties  of  religion  be  attended  on  board  the  sev 
eral  vessels,  and  in  the  several  companies  under 
your  command,  by  daily  prayers  unto  God,  and 
reading  his  holy  word,  and  observance  of  the 
Lord's  Day,  to  the  utmost  you  can. 

You  are  to  see  that  your  soldiers  have  their 
due  allowance  of  provisions  and  other  necessa 
ries,  and  that  the  sick  and  wounded  be  accom 
modated  in  the  best  manner  your  circumstances 
will  admit.  And  that  good  order  and  command 
may  be  kept  up  and  maintained  in  the  several  com 
panies,  and  all  disorders,  drunkenness,  profane 
cursing,  swearing,  disobedience  to  Officers,  muti 
nies,  omissions  or  neglect  of  duty,  be  duly  punish 
ed  according  to  the  laws  martial.  And  you  are 
to  require  the  Captain  or  chief  Officer  of  each 
company,  with  the  clerk  of  the  same,  to  keep  an 
exact  journal  of  all  their  proceedings  from  tim« 
to  time. 

In  case  any  of  the  Indian  enemy  and  rebels 
offer  to  submit  themselves,  you  are  to  i»ecieve 
them  only  at  discretion;  but  if  you  think  fit  to  im 
prove  any  of  them,  or  any  others  which  you  may 
happen  to  take  prisoners,  you  may  encourage  them 
16* 


186  WAR    WITH    THE 

to  be  faithful  by  the  promise  of  their  lives,  whi/b 
shall  be  granted  upon  approbation  of  their  fidelity. 

You  are  carefully  to  look  after  the  Indians 
which  you  have  out  of  the  prison,  so  that  !h«'.y 
may  not  have  opportunity  to  escape,  but  other 
wise  improve  them  to  what  advantage  you  can. 
and  return  them  back  again  to  this  place. 

You  are  to  advise,  as  you  can  have  occasion, 
with  Capt.  John  Gorham,  who  accompanies  you 
in  this  expedition,  and  is  to  take  your  command 
in  case  of  your  death.  A  copy  of  these  instn.ir- 
tions  you  are  to  leave  with  him,  and  to  give  me 
an  account  from  time  to  time  of  your  proceedings. 
WILLIAM  STOUGIITON. 

Boston,  August  12,  1696. 

In  the  time  Major  Church  lay  at  Boston,  the 
news  came  of  Pemequid  fort's  being  taken.  It  came 
by  a  shallop,  that  brought  some  prisoners  to  Bos 
ton,  who  gave  an  account  also  that  there  was 
a  French  ship  at  Mount  Desart,  who  had  taken  a 
ship  of  ours;  so  the  discourse  was,  that  they  would 
send  the  man  of  war,  with  other  forces  to  take  the 
said  French  ship,  and  retake  ours.  But  in  the 
mean  time,  Major  Church  and  his  forces  being 
ready,  embarked,  and  on  the  15th  day  of  August, 
set  sail  for  Piscataqua,  where  more  men  were  to 
jtjin  them;  but  before  they  left  Boston,  Major 
Church  discoursed  with  the  Captain  of  the  man 
of  war,  who  promised  him,  if  he  went  to  Mount 
Desart,  in  pursuit  of  the  French  ship,  that  he 
would  call  for  him  and  his  forces  at  Piscataqua, 
expecting  that  the  French  and  Indians  might  not 
be  far  from  the  said  French  ship,  so  that  he  might 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  178 

have  an  opportunity  to  fight  them  while  he  was  en 
gaged  with  the  French  ship.      Soon  after  the  forces 
arrived    at    Piscataqua,   the  Major  sent   his   In 
dian  soldiers  to  Col.  Gidney,  at  York,  to  be   as 
sisting  for  the  defence  of  those   places,  who  gave 
them  a  good  commend  for  their  ready  and  willing 
services  done,  in  scouting  and  the  like.     Lying  at 
Piscataqua  with  the  rest  of  our  forces  near  a  week, 
waiting  for  more  forces   who  were  to  join  them, 
to  make  up  their  complement;  in  all  which  time 
heard  never  a  word  of  the  man  of  war.     On  the 
22d  of  August  they  all  embarked  for  Piscataqua, 
and    when  they  came    against  York,  the    Major 
went  ashore,   sending  Capt.  Gorham    with   some 
forces  in  two  brigantines  and  a  sloop,  to  Winter- 
Harbour,  ordering  him  to  send  out  scouts,  to  see 
if  they  could  make   any  discovery  of  the  enemy, 
and  to  wait  there  till   he   came  to    them.     Major 
Church  coming  to  York,    Col.    Gidney   told  him 
his  opinion  was,  that  the  enemy  were  drawn    off 
from  those  parts,  for  that  the  scouts  could  not  dis 
cover  any  of  them,  nor  their  tracks.      So  having 
done  his  business  there,  went  with  what  forces  he 
had  there,  to  Winter-Harbour,  where  he  had  the 
same  account  from  Capt.  Gorham,  that  tl>;y  had 
not  discovered  any  of  the   enemy,   nor   any   r^v 
tracks;  so,  concluding  they  were  gone  l.^m  thv,.i.e 
parts,  towards  Penobscot,  the   Major  ordered   all 
the  vessels  to  come  re  sail  and  make  the  best   of 
their  way  to  Monhegio,  which  being  not  far  from 
Penobscot,   where    the  main  boJy  of  our  enemies 
living  was.     Being  in  great  hopes,  to  come  up  with 
the  army  of  French  and  Indians,  before  th-y  hud 
scut1  or; ,  J  ,cud  were  gone  past  Penobscot,  or  Mount 
I     xart,  which  is  the  chief  place  of  their  departure 


188  WAR    WITH    THE 

from  each  other  after  such  actions.  Having  a  fail- 
wind,  made  the  best  of  their  way,  and  early  next 
morning  they  got  into  Monhegin,  and  there  lay 
all  day  fitting  their  boats,  and  other  necessaries  to 
embark  in  the  night  at  Mussel-neck  with  their 
boats;  lying  there  all  day  to  keep  undiscovered 
from  the  enemy.  At  night  the  Major  ordered  the 
vessels  all  to  come  to  sail,  and  carry  the  forces 
over  the  bay,  near  Penobscot;  but  having  little 
wind,  he  ordered  all  the  soldiers  to  embark  on 
board  the  boats  with  eight  day's  provision,  and 
sent  the  vessels  back  to  Monhegin,  that  they  might 
not  be  discovered  by  the  enemy;  giving  them  or 
ders  when  and  where  they  should  come  to  him. 
The  forces  being  all  ready  in  their  boats,  rowing 
very  hard,  got  ashore  at  a  point  near  Penobscot, 
just  as  the  day  broke,  and  hid  their  boats,  and 
keeping  a  good  look  out  by  sea,  and  sent  scouts 
out  by  land;  but  could  not  discover  either  canoes 
or  Indians;  what  tracks  and  fire  places  they  saw 
were  judged  to  be  seven  or  eight  days  before  they 
came.  As  soon  as  night  came,  that  they  might 
go  undiscovered,  got  into  their  boats  and  went  by 
Mussel-neck,  and  so  among  Penobscot  Islands, 
looking  very  sharp  as  they  went  for  fires  on  the 
shore,  and  for  canoes,  but  found  neither.  Getting 
up  to  Mathebestucks  hills,  day  coming  on,  landed, 
and  hid  their  boats;  looking  out  for  the  enemy, 
as  the  day  before,  but  to  little  purpose.  Night 
coming  on,  took  to  their  oars  again,  working  very 
hard,  turned  the  night  into  day,  which  made  seve 
ral  of  their  new  soldiers  grumble;  but  telling  them 
they  hoped  to  come  up  quickly  with  the  enemy, 
put  new  life  into  them;  and  by  day  light  they  got 
into  the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  landing,  found 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  loU 

many  rendezvous  and  fire  places  where  the  Indians 
had  been;  but  at  the  same  space  of  time  as  before 
mentioned.  No  canoes  passed  up  the  river  that 
day.  Their  pilot,  Joseph  York,  informed  the 
Major  that  50  or  60  miles  up  that  river,  at  the 
great  falls,  the  enemy  had  a  great  rendezvous, 
and  planted  a  great  quantity  of  corn,  when  he  was 
a  prisoner  with  them  four  years  ago,  and  that  he 
was  very  well  acquainted  there;  this  gave  great 
encouragement  to  have  had  some  considerable  ad- 

o 

vantage  of  the  enemy  at  that  place;  so  using  their 
utmost  endeavours  to  get  up  there  undiscovered, 
and  coming  there,  found  no  enemy,  nor  corn  plant 
ed,  they  having  deserted  the  place.  And  ranging 
about  the  falls  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  leaving 
men  on  the  east  side  of  the  said  river,  and  the 
boats  just  below  the  falls,  with  a  good  guard  to  se 
cure  them,  and  to  take  the  enemy  if  they  came 
down  the  river  in  their  canoes.  The  west  side 
being  the  place  where  the  enemy  lived  and  best 
to  travel  on,  they  resolved  to  range  as  privately 
as  they  could.  A  mile  or  two  above  the  falls 
they  discovered  a  birch  canoe  coming  down  with 
two  Indians  in  it;  the  Major  sent  word  immedi 
ately  back  to  those  at  the  Falls,  to  lie  very  close 
and  let  them  pass  down  the  falls,  and  to  take  them 
alive,  that  he  might  have  intelligence  where  the 
enemy  were,  which  would  have  been  a  great  ad 
vantage  to  them;  but  a  foolish  soldier  seeing  them 
passing  by  him,  shot  at  them,  contrary  to  orders, 
which  prevented  them  going  into  the  ambuscade 
that  was  laid  for  them;  whereupon,  several  more 
of  our  men  being  near,  shot  at  them;  so  that  one 
of  them  could  not  stand  when  he  got  ashore,  but 
crept  away  into  the  brush;  the  other  stepped  out 


190  WAR    WITH    TH.E 

out  of  the  canoe  with  his  paddle  in  his  hand,  and 
ran  about  a  rod,  and  then  threw  down  his  paddle, 
and  turned  back  and  took  up  his  gun,  and  so  es 
caped.  One  of  our  Indians  swam  over  the  river 
and  fetched  the  canoe,  wherein  was  a  considerable 
quantity  of  blood  on  the  seats,  that  the  Indians 
sat  on;  the  canoe  having  several  holes  shot  in  her. 
They  stopped  the  holes,  and  then  Capt.  Bracket 
with  an  Indian  soldier,  went  over  the  river,  who 
tracked  them  by  fche  blood  about  half  a  mile,  found 
his  gun,  took  it  up,  and  seeing  the  blood  no  fur 
ther,  concluded  that  he  stopped  his  blood,  and  so 
got  away.  In  the  mean  time  another  canoe  with 
three  men  were  coming  down  the  river,  were  fired 
at  by  some  of  our  forces,  ran  ashore,  and  left  two 
of  their  guns  in  the  canoe,  which  were  taken,  and 
also  a  letter  from  a  Priest  to  Casteen,  that  gave 
him  an  account  of  the  French  and  Indians  return 
ing  over  the  lake  to  Mount  Royal,  and  of  their 
little  service  done  upon  the  Maquas  Indians  west 
ward,  only  demolishing  one  fort,  and  cutting  down 
some  corn,  &c.  He  desired  to  hear  of  the  pro 
ceedings  of  Deborahuel,  and  the  French  man  of 
war;  and  informed  him  that  there  were  several 
canoes  coming  with  workmen  from  Quebec,  to 
St.  Johns,  where  since  we  concluded  it  was  to 
build  a  fort  at  the  river's  mouth,  where  the  great 
guns  were  taken,  &,c.  It  being  just  night,  the 
officers  were  called  together  to  advise,  and  their 
pilot,  York,  informed  them  of  a  fort  up  that  river, 
and  that  it  was  built  on  a  little  island  in  that  river; 
and  that  there  was  no  getting  to  it  but  in  canoes, 
or  on  the  ice  in  the  winter  time.  This,  with  the 
certain  knowledge  that  we  were  discovered  by  the 
enemy  that  escaped  out  of  the  upper  canoe,  con- 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  191 

eluded  it  not  proper,  at  that  time,  to  proceed  any 
further  up,  and  that  there  was  no  getting  any  fur 
ther  with  our  boats;  and  the  enemy  being  alarmed 
would  certainly  fly  from  them,  and  do  as  they  did 
four  years  ago  at  their  fort  at  Taconock;  'having 
fought  them  in  Kennebeck  river,  and  pursued  them 
about  thirty  miles  to  Taconock;  for  they  then  set 
their  fort  on  fire,  and  run  away  by  the  light  of  it, 
ours  not  being  able  to  come  up  with  them  at  that 
place.     Maj.   Church  then  encouraging  his  sol 
diers  told  them,  he  hoped  they  should  meet  with 
part  of  the  enemy  in  Penobscot-Bay  or  at  Mount- 
Desart,  where   the  French  ships  were.     So  not 
withstanding  they  had  been  rowing  several  nights 
before,  with  much  toil,  besides  were  short  of  pro 
visions,  they  cheerfully  embarked  on  board  their 
boats,   and  went  down  the  river,  both  with  and 
against  the  tide;  and  next  morning  came  to  their 
vessels,   where  the   Major  had  ordered  them  to 
meet  him,  who  could  give  him  no  intelligence  of 
any  enemy.     Where  being  come  they  refreshed 
themselves;  meeting  then  with  another  disappoint 
ment,  for  their  pilot  York  not  being  acquainted 
any  further,  they  began  to  lament  the  loss  of  one 
Robert  Cawley,  on  whom  they  chiefly  depended 
for  all  the  service  to  be   done  now  eastward;  he 
having  been  taken  away  from  them  the  night  be 
fore  they  set  sail  from  Boston,  and  put  on  board 
the  man  of  war,  unknown  to  Maj.   Church;  not 
withstanding  he  had  been  at  the  charge  and  trou 
ble  of  procuring  him.     Then  the  Major  was  oblig 
ed  to  one  Bord,  procured  by  Mr.  William  Alden, 
who  being  acquainted   in  those  parts,  to  leave  his 
vessel,  and  go  with  him  in  the  boats,   which  he 
readily  complied   with,    and  so  went  to  Nasket- 


192  WAR    WITH    THE 

point;  where  being  informed  was  a  likely  place  to 
meet  with  the  enemy.     Coming  there  they  found 
several   houses  and   small  fields  of  corn,  the  fires 
having  been  out  several  days,  and  no  new  tracks. 
But  upon  Penobscot  island  they  found  several  In 
dian  houses,  corn,  and  turnips,  though  the  enemy 
still  being  all  gone,  as  before-mentioned.     Then 
they  divided   and  sent  their  boats  some  one  way, 
and  some  another,  thinking  that  if  any  straggling 
Indians,  or  Casteen  himself,  should  be  thereabout, 
they  might  find  them,   but  it  proved  all  in  vain. 
Himself  and  several  boats  went  to  Mount-Desart, 
to  see  if  the  French  ships  were  gone,  and  whether 
any  of  the  enemy  might  be  there,  but  to  no  pur 
pose;  the  ships  being  gone,  and  the  enemy  also. 
They  being  now  got  several  leagues  to  the  west 
ward  of  their  vessels;  and  seeing  that  the  way  was 
clear  for  their  vessels  to  pass:  and  all  their  ex 
treme  rowing   and   travelling  by  land  and  water, 
night  and   day,  to  be  all  in  vain.       The  enemy 
having  left  those  parts,  as  they  judged,  about  eight 
or  ten  days  before.     And  then  returning  to  their 
vessels,  the  commander  calling  all  his  officers  to 
gether,  to  consult  and  resolve  what  to  do,  con 
cluded  that  the  enemy,  by  some  means  or  other, 
had  received  some  intelligence  of  their  being  come 
out  against  them;  and  that  they  were  in  no  neces 
sity  to  come   down  to  the  sea  side  as  yet,  moose 
and  beaver  now  being  fat.     They  then  agreed  to 
go  so  far  East,    and   employ  themselves,  that  the 
enemy  belonging  to  those  parts,  might  think  they 
were  gone  home.     Having  some  discourse  about 
going  over  to  St.  Johns;  but  the  masters  of  the 
vessels  said,  they  had  as  good  carry  them  to  Old 
France,  &c.  which  put  off' that  design;  they  con- 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 


193 


eluding  that  the  French  ships  were  there.     Then 
the  Major  moved  for  going  over  the  hay,  towards 
Lahane,  and  towards  the  Gut  of  Cancer,  where 
was  another  considerable  fort  of  Indians,  who  often 
came  to  the  assistance  of  our  enemy,  the  'barba 
rous  Indians;  saying,  that  by  the  time  they  should 
return  again,  the  enemy  belonging  to  these  parts 
would  come  down  again,  expecting  that  we   were 
gone  home.     But  in  short,  could  not  prevail  with 
the  masters  of  the  open  sloops  to  venture  across 
the  bay;  who  said  it  was  very  dangerous  so  late  in 
the  year,  and  as  much   as  their  lives  were  worth. 
Then  they  resolved  to  go   to  Senactaca,  wherein 
there   was  a  ready  compliance,   but  the  want  of 
their  pilot,  Robert  Crawley,  was  a  great  damage 
to  them,    who    knew   ail  those  parts.      However. 
Mr.  John  Alden,  master  of  the  brigantine  Endeav 
our,  piloted  them  up  the  bay  to  vSenactaca.     And 
coming  to  Grindstone-point,  being  riot  far  from 
Senactaca;  then  came  to  with  all  the  vessels,  and 
early  next  morning  came  to  sail,  and  about  sun 
rise  got  into  town.      But  it  being  so  late  before 
we  landed,  that  the  enemy,  most  of  them,  made 
their  escape,  and  as  it  happened,  landed  where  the 
French  and  Indians  had  some  time  before  killed 
Lieut.  John  Paine,  and  several  of  Capt.  Smith- 
son's   men,   that   were   with   said   Paine.     They 
seeing  our  forces  coming  took  the  opportunity, 
fired  several  guns,  and  so  ran  all  into  the  woods, 
carried  all,  or  most  part  of  their  goods  with  them 
One  Jarman  Bridgway  came  running  towards  our 
forces,  with  a  gun  in  one  hand,  and  his  cartridge- 
box  in  the  other,  calling  to  our  forces  to  stop,  that 
he   might  speak   with    them;    but   Maj.    Church 
thinking  it  was  that  they  might  have  some  advan- 
17 


194 


WAR    WITH    THE 


tage,  ordered  them  to  run  on;  when  the  said 
Bridgway  saw  they  would  not  stop,  turned  and 
ran,  but  the  Major  called  unto  him,  and  hid  him 
stop,  or  he  should  be  shot  down.  Some  of  our  for 
ces  being  near  to  the  said  Bridgway,  said  it  was 
the  General  that  called  to  him.  He,  hearing  that, 
stopped  and  turned  about,  laid  down  his  gun,  arid 
stood  till  the  Major  came  up  to  him.  His  desire 
was,  that  the  commander  would  make  haste  with 
him  to  his  house,  lest  the  savages  should  kill  his 
father  and  mother,  who  were  upward  of  four-score 
years  of  age,  and  could  not  go.  The  Major  ask 
ed  the  said  Bridgway  whether  there  were  any 
Indians  among  them,  and  where  they  lived?  He 
shook  his  head  and  said,  he  dared  not  tell,  for  if 
he  did,  they  would  take  an  opportunity  and  kill 
him  and  his;  so  all  that  could  be  got  out  of  him 
was,  that  they  were  run  into  the  woods  with  the 
rest.  Then  orders  were  given  to  pursue  the  ene 
my,  and  to  kill  what  Indians  they  could  find,  and 
take  the  French  alive,  and  give  them  quarter  if 
they  asked  it.  Our  forces  soon  took  three  French 
men,  who,  upon  examination,  said,  that  the  In 
dians  were  all  run  into  the  woods.  The  French 
fired  several  guns  at  our  forces,  and  ours  at  them; 
but  they  being  better  acquainted  with  the  woods 
than  ours,  got  away.  The  Major  took  the  above- 
said  Jarman  Bridgway  for  a  pilot,  and  with  some 
of  his  forces  went  over  a  river,  to  several  of  their 
houses,  but  the  people  were  gone  and  carried 
their  goods  with  them.  In  ranging  the  woods 
they  found  several  Indian  houses,  their  fires  being 
just  out,  but  no  Indians.  Spending  that  day  in 
ranging  to  and  fro,  found  considerable  of  their 
goods,  and  but  few  people;  at  night  the  Major 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  195 

wrote  a  letter,  and  sent  out  two  French  prisoners, 
wherein  was  signified,  that  if  they  would  come  in, 
they  should  have  good  quarters.  The  next  day 
several  came  in,  which  did  belong  to  that  part  of 
the  town  where  our  forces  first  landed,  who  had 
encouragements  given  them  by  our  Commander, 
that  if  they  would  assist  him  in  taking  those  In 
dians  which  belonged  to  those  parts,  they  should 
have  their  goods  returned  to  them  again,  and  their 
estates  should  not  be  damnified;  this  they  refused. 
Then  the  Major  and  his  forces  pursued  their  de 
sign,  and  went  further  ranging  their  country,  found 
several  more  houses,  but  the  people  fled,  and  car 
ried  what  they  had  away;  but  in  a  creek  found  a 
prize  bark,  that  was  brought  in  there  by  a  French 
privateer.  In  ranging  the  woods  they  took  some 
prisoners,  who  upon  examination  gave  our  Com 
mander  an  account,  that  there  were  some  Indians 
upon  a  neck  of  land,  towards  Menes;  so  a  party 
of  men  was  sent  into  those  woods,  and  in  their 
ranging  about  the  said  neck  found  some  plunder, 
and  a  considerable  quantity  of  whortleberries, 
both  green  and  dry,  which  were  gathered  by  the 
Indians,  and  had  like  to  have  taken  two  Indians, 
who,  by  the  help  of  a  birch  canoe,  got  over  the 
river,  and  made  their  escape.  Also  they  foun<! 
two  barrels  of  powder,  and  near  half  a  bushel  oi 
bullets;  the  French  denying  them  to  be  theirs, 
said  they  were  the  savages',  but  surely  it  might 
be  a  supply  for  our  enemies.  Also  they  took 
from  Jarman  Bridgway  several  barrels  of  powder, 
with  bullets,  shot,  spears  and  knives,  and  other 
supplies  to  relieve  our  enemies;  he  owning  that 
he  had  been  a  trading  with  those  Indians  along 
Cape-Sable  shore,  with  Peter  Assnow,  in  a  sloop 


196  WAR    WITH     THE 

our  forces  took  from  him;  and  that  there  he  met 
with  the  French  ships,  and  went  along  with  them 
to  St.  Johns,  and  helped  them  to  unload  the  said 
ships,  and  carried  up  the  river  provisions,  ammu 
nition,  and  other  goods  to  Vilboon's  fort. 

The  Major  having  ranged  all  places  that  were 
thought  proper,  returned  back  to  the  place  wlu  re 
they  first  landed;  and  finding  several  prisoners 
had  come  in,  who  were  troubled  to  see  their  cat 
tle,  sheep,  hogs  and  dogs  lying  dead  about  their 
houses,  chopped  and  hacked  with  hatchets,  which 
was  done  without  order  from  the  Major;  however 
he  told  them,  "  It  is  nothing  to  what  our  poor 
English,  in  our  frontier  towns  are  forced  to  look 
upon.  For  men  women  and  children  are  chopped 
and  hacked  so,  and  left  half  dead,  with  all  their 
scalps  taken  off,  and  your  Indians  served  ours  so; 
and  our  savages  would  be  glad  to  serve  them  so 
too,  if  I  would  permit  them,'5  which  caused  them 
to  be  mighty  submissive,  and  begged  the  Major 
that  he  would  not  let  the  savages  serve  them  so. 
Our  Indians  being  somewhat  sensible  of  the  dis 
course,  desired  to  have  some  of  them  to  roast,  and 
so  make  a  dance.  And  dancing  in  a  hideous 
manner,  to  terrify  them,  said  that  they  could  eat 
any  sort  of  flesh,  and  that  some  of  theirs  would 
make  their  hearts  strong.  Stepping  up  to  some 
of  the  prisoners,  said,  they  must  have  their  scalps, 
which  much  terrified  the  poor  -prisoners,  who  beg 
ged  for  their  lives.  The  Major  told  them  he  did 
not  design  the  savages  should  hurt  them;  but  it 
was  to  let  them  see  a  little  what  the  poor  English 
felt,  saying,  it  was  not  their  scalps  he  wanted, 
but  the  savages,  for  he  should  get  nothing  by 
them;  and  told  them,  that  their  fathers,  the  Fri- 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  197 

ars  and  Governors,  encouraged  their  savages,  and 
gave  them  money  to  scalp  our  English,  notwith 
standing  they  were  \vith  them,  which  several  of 
our  English,  there  present,  did  testify  to  their  fa 
ces,  that  their  fathers  and  mothers  were  served  so 
in  their  sight.  But  the  Major  bid  them  tell  their 
fathers  the  Friars,  and  the  Governors,  that  if  they 
still  persisted,  and  let  their  wretched  savages  kill 
and  destroy  the  poor  English  at  that  rate,  he 
would  come  with  some  hundreds  of  savages,  and 
let  them  loose  amongst  them,  who  would  kill, 
scalp,  and  carry  away  every  French  person  in  all 
those  parts;  for  they  were  the  root  from  whence 
all  the  branches  came  that  hurt  us;  for  the  Indians 
could  not  do  us  any  harm,  if  they  did  not  relieve 
and  supply  them.  The  French  being  sensible  of 
the  Major's  kindness  to  them,  kissed  his  hand, 
and  were  very  thankful  to  him  for  his  favour  to 
them  in  saving  their  lives  ;  owned  that  their 
Priests  were  at  the  taking  of  Pemequid  fort,  and 
were  now  gone  to  Layhone,  with  some  of  the 
Indians,  to  meet  the  French  ships,  but  for  what 
they  would  not  tell. 

The  Commander,  with  his  forces,  having  done 
all  they  could  in  those  parts,  concluded  to  go  to 
St.  Johns  river,  to  do  further  service  for  their 
king  and  country,  and  embarked  all  on  board  their 
transports.*  Having  a  fair  wind,  they  soon  got 
to  Monogenest,  which  lies  a  little  distance  from 
the  mouth  of  St.  Johns  river.  Next  morning 
early  the  Major  with  his  forces  landed,  to  see 
what  discoveries  they  could  make,  travelled  across 
the  woods  to  the  old  fort,  or  falls,  at  the  mouth  of 

*  The  20th  September,  1696. 
17* 


108  WAR    WITH     THE 

St.  Johns  river,  keeping  themselves  undiscovered 
from  the  enemy.  Finding  there  were  several  men 
at  work,  and  having  informed  themselves  as  much 
as  they  could;  the  enemy  being  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river  could  not  come  at  them,  they  return 
ed  back  ;  but  night  coming  on,  and  dark  wet 
weather,  with  bad  travelling,  were  obliged  to  stop 
in  the  woods  till  toward  day  next  morning,  and 
then  went  on  board.  Soon  after  the  Major  or 
dered  all  the  vessels  to  come  to  sail,  and  go  into 
the  month  of  the  river.  Being  done,  it  was  riot 
long  before  the  Major  and  his  forces  landed  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  the  French  firing  brisk 
ly  at  them,  but  did  them  no  harm;  and  running 
fiercely  upon  the  enemy,  they  soon  fled  into  the 
woods.  The  Major  ordered  a  brisk  party  to  run 
across  the  neck  to  cut  them  off  from  their  canoes, 
which  the  day  before  they  had  made  a  discovery 
of;  so  the  commander  with  the  rest,  ran  directly 
toward  the  new  fort  they  were  building,  not  know 
ing  but  they  had  some  ordnance  mounted.  The 
enemy  running  directly  toward  their  canoes,  were 
met  by  our  forces,  who  fired  at  them,  and  killed 
one,  and  wounded  Corporal  Canton,  who  was 
taken;  the  rest  threw  down  what  they  had  and 
ran  into  the  woods.  The  said  prisoner  Canton 
being  brought  to  the  Major,  told  him,  if  he  would 
let  his  surgeon  dress  his  wound  and  cure  him,  he 
would  be  serviceable  to  him  as  long  as  he  lived. 
So,  being  dressed,  he  was  examined,  and  gave  to 
the  Major  an  account  of  the  twelve  great  guns 
which  were  hid  in  the  beach,  below  high  water 
mark,  the  carriages,  shot  and  wheelbarrows,  and 
some  flour  and  pork,  all  hid  in  the  woods.  The 
next  morning  the  officers  being  ail  ordered  to  meet 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  199 

together  to  consult  about  going  to  Vilboon's  fort, 
and  none  among  them  being  acquainted  but  the 
Alderis,  who  said  the  water  in  the  river  was  very 
low,  so  that  they  could  not  get  up  to  the  fort. 
And  the  prisoner  Canton  told  the  Commander, 
that  what  the  Aldens  said  was  true.  So  not  be 
ing  willing  to  make  a  Canada  expedition,  conclud 
ed  it  was  not  practicable  to  proceed.  He  then 
ordered  some  of  the  forces  to  get  the  great  guns 
on  board  the  open  sloops,  and  the  rest  to  range 
the  woods  for  the  eneYny,  who  took  and  brought 
in  one  prisoner;  and  in  their  ranging  found  a  shal 
lop  haled  into  a  creek;  and  a  day  or  two  after 
there  came  in  a  young  soldier  to  our  forces,  who, 
upon  examination,  gave .  an  account  of  two  more 
which  he  left  in  the  woods  at  some  distance.  So 
immediately  the  Major,  with  some  of  his  forcest 
went  in  pursuit  of  them,  taking  the  said  prisoner 
with  them,  who  conveyed  them  to  the  place  where 
he  left  them,  but  they  were  gone.  He  then  ask 
ed  the  prisoner  whether  there  were  any  Indians 
in  those  parts?  who  said,  No;  it  was  as  hard  for 
Vilboon,  their  Governor,  to  get  an  Indian  down 
to  the  water  side,  as  it  was  for  him  to  carry  one 
of  those  great  guns  upon  his  back  to  his  fort;  for 
they  having  had  intelligence  by  a  prisoner  out  of 
Boston  gaol,  that  gave  them  an  account  of  Major 
Church  and  his  forces  coming  out  against  them. 
Now  having,  with  a  great  deal  of  pains  and 
trouble,  got  all  the  guns,  shot  and  other  stores  on 
board,  intended  on  the  design  which  we  came  out 
first  for;  but  the  wind  not  serving,  the  commander 
sent  out  his  scouts  into  the  woods,  to  seek  for  the 
enemy;  and  four  of  our  Indians  came  upon  three 
Frenchmen  undiscovered,  who  concluded  thak-if 


200 


WAR    WITH    THE 


the  French  should  discover  them  they  would  fire 
at  them,  and  might  kill  one  or  more  of  them, 
which  to  prevent  they  fired  at  the  French,  killed 
one,  and  took  the  other  two  prisoners.  And  it 
happened  that  he  who  was  killed  was  Shanelere, 
the  chief  man  there.  The  same  day  they  mended 
their  whale-boats,  and  the  shallop  which  they 
took,  fitting  her  to  row  with  eight  oars,  that  she 
might  be  helpful  to  the  prosecution  of  their  in 
tended  design  against  the  enemy,  in  their  return 
homeward.  Then  the  C'ommander,  ordering  all 
the  officers  to  come  together,  informed  them  of  his 
intentions,  and  ordered  that  no  vessel  should  de 
part  from  the  fleet,  but  to  attend  the  motions  of 
their  Commodore,  as  formerly,  except  they  were 
parted  by  storms  or  thick  fogs;  and  if  so  it  should 
1 appen  that  any  should  part,  when  they  came  to 
Fassemaquaddy  they  should  stop  there  awhile,  for 
there  they  intended  to  stop,  and  do  business,  with 
the  help  of  their  boats,  against  the  enemy;  and  if 
they  missed  that,  to  stop  at  Machias,  which  was 
the  next  place  he  intended  to  stop  at,  having  an 
account  by  the  prisoners  taken,  that  Mr.  Lateril 
was  there  trading  with  the  Indians  in  that  river. 
Encouraging  them,  he  said,  he  did  not  doubt  but 
to  have  a  good  booty  there.  And  if  they  should 
pass  those  two  places,  be  sure  not  to  pass  Naskege 
point,  but  to  stop  there  till  he  came,  and  not  to  de 
part  from  thence  in  a  fortnight  without  his  orders, 
having  great  service  to  do  in  and  about  Penobscot, 
&,c.  Then  the  Major  discoursed  with  Captains 
Brackit,  Hunewell  and  Larking,  and  their  Lieu 
tenants,  commanders  of  the  forces  belonging  to 
the  eastern  parts,  who  were  to  discourse  with  their 
soldiers  about  their  proceedings  when  they  came 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  201 

to  Penobscot;  and  the  Major  himself  was  to  dis 
course  with  his  Indian  soldiers  and  their  captains, 
who  with  all  the  rest  readily  complied.  The  pro 
jection  being  such,  that  when  they  came  to  Pe- 
nobscot,  the  Commander  designed  to  take  what 
provisions  could  be  spared  out  of  all  the  sloops, 
and  put  on  board  the  two  brigantines,  and  to  send 
all  the  sloops  home  with  some  of  the  officers  and 
men  that  wanted  to  be  at  home.  And  then,  with 
those  forces  before  mentioned,  viz.  the  Eastward 
men  and  all  the  Indians;  and  to  take  what  provi 
sions  and  ammunition  were  needful,  and  to  inarch 
himself  up  into  the  Penobscot  country,  in  search 
for  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  to  take  the  fort  in 
Penobscot  river.  Captain  Brackit  informed  the 
Major,  that  when  the  water  was  low  they  could 
wade  over,  which  was  at  that  time  the  lowest  that 
had  been  known  in  a  long  time;  and  being  there, 
to  range  through  that  country  down  to  Pemequid, 
where  he  intended  the  two  brigantines  should  meet 
them.  And  from  thence  taking  more  provisions, 
viz.  bread,  salt  and  ammunition  suitable,  to  send 
those  two  vessels  home  also,  to  travel  through  the 
country  to  Neridgiwack,*  and  from  thence  to 
Ameras-cogen  fort,  and  so  down  where  the  enemy 
used  to  plant,  riot  doubting  but  that  in  all  this 
travel  to  meet  with  many  of  the  enemy  before 
they  should  get  to  Piscataqua.  All  which  inten 
tions  were  very  acceptable  to  the  forces  that  were 
to  undertake  it,  who,  rejoicing,  said,  they  had 
rather  go  home  by  land  than  by  water,  provided 
their  Commander  went  with  them,  who,  to  try 
their  fidelity,  said  he  was  grown  ancient,  and 

*  Norridgewock. 


202  WAR    WITH    THE 

might  fail  them.  They  all  said,  they  would  not 
leave  him,  and  when  he  could  not  travel  any  fur 
ther  they  would  carry  him.  Having  done  what 
service  they  could  at  and  about  the  mouth  of  St. 
Johns  river,  resolved  on  their  intended  design; 
and  the  next  morning  having  but  little  wind,  carne 
all  to  sail;  the  wind  coming  against  them,  they 
put  into  Mushquash  cove,  and  the  next  day  ' j  e 
wind  still  being  against  them,  the  Major  with  part 
of  his  forces  landed,  and  employed  themselves  in 
ranging  the  country  for  the  enemy,  but  to  no  pur 
pose.  In  the  night  the  wind  came  pretty  fair, 
and  at  12  o'clock  they  came  to  sail,  and  had  not 
been  out  long  before  they  espied  three  sails  of  ves 
sels;  expecting  them  to  be  French,  fitted  to  de 
fend  themselves;  so  coming  near,  hailed  them,  and 
found  them  to  be  a  man  of  war,  the  Province 
Galley,  and  old  Mr.  Alden*  in  a  sloop,  with  more 
forces,  Colonel  Hathornef  Commander.  Major 
Church  went  aboard  the  Commodore,  where  Col. 
Hathorne  was,  who  gave  him  an  account  of  his 
commission  and  orders,  and  read  them  to  him. 
Then  his  Honor  told  Major  Church,  that  there 
was  a  particular  order  on  board  Capt.  Southack 
for  him,  which  is  as  folio  weth.J 

*  This  is  the  Mr.  Alden  mentioned  by  Hutchinson,  who 
was  imprisoned  for  witchcraft,  at  Saiem,  and  was  examined 
by  Major  Hawthorn,  under  whom  he  appears  in  this  expe 
dition. 

f  Hawthorn. — HUTCH,  vol.  ii.  p.  94. 

j  Hutchinson  says  "  this  was  an  impolitic  measure  of  the 
government,  unless  any  misconduct  in  Church  made  it  ne 
cessary  that  he  should  be  superceded;"  but  this  he  does  not 
make  appear,  nor  any  other  author  except  Charlevoix. 
Colonel  Church  could  not  but  be  offended  at  their  conduct, 
and  we  need  not  wonder,  that,  after  this,  things  went  on 
heavily. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  203 

Boston,  September  9,  1696. 
SIR, 

His  Majesty's  ship  Orford  having  lately  sur 
prised  a  French  shallop,  with  twenty-three  of  the 
soldiers  belonging  to  the  fort  upon  Johns  river, 
in  Nova-Scotia,  together  with  Villeau,  their  Cap 
tain,  Providence  seems  to  encourage  the  forming 
of  an  expedition  to  attack  that  fort,  and  to  disrest 
and  remove  the  enemy  from  that  post,  which  is 
the  chief  source  from  whence  the  most  of  our  dis 
asters  do  issue,  and  also  to  favour  with  an  oppor 
tunity  for  gaining  out  of  their  hands  the  ordnance, 
artillery,  and  other  warlike  stores,  and  provisions, 
lately  supplied  to  them  from  France,  for  erecting 
a  new  fort  near  the  river's  mouth,  whereby  they 
will  be  greatly  strengthened,  and  the  reducing  of 
them  rendered  more  difficult.     I  have  therefore 
ordered  a  detachment  of  two  new  companies,  con 
sisting  of  about  a  hundred  men  to  join  the  forces 
now  with  you  for  that  expedition,  and  have  com 
missioned  Lieut.  Col.  John  Hathorne,  one  of  the 
members  of   his  Majesty's  Council,   who  is   ac 
quainted  with   that  river,  and  in  whose  courage 
and  conduct  I  repose   special  trust,  to   take   the 
chief  command  of  the  whole  during  that  service, 
being  well  assured  that  your  good  affections  and 
zeal  for  his  Majesty's    service  will  induce   your 
ready  compliance  and  assistance  therein,  which,  I 
hope,  will  take  up  no  long  time,  and  be  of  great 
benefit  and   advantage  to  these  his  Majesty's  ter 
ritories,  if  it  please   God   to   succeed   the   same. 
Besides,  it  is  very  probable  to  be  the  fairest  op 
portunity,  that  can  be  offered  unto  yourself  and 
men,  of  doing  execution  upon  the  Indian  enemy 
and  rebels,  who  may  reasonably  be  expected  to 


204  WAR    WITH    THE 

be  drawn  to  the  defence  of  that  fort.  I  have  also 
ordered  his  Majesty's  ship  Arundel,  and  the 
Province  galley  to  attend  this  service. 

Col.  Hathorne  will  communicate  unto  you  the 
contents  of  his  commission  and  instructions  reciev- 
ed  from  myself  for  this  expedition,  which  I  expect 
and  order  that  yourself,  officers  and  soldiers,  now 
under  you,  yield  obedience  unto.  He  is  to  advise 
with  yourself  and  others  in  all  weighty  attempts. 
Praying  for  a  blessing  from  Heaven  upon  the  said 
enterprise,  and  that  all  engaged  in  the  same  may 
be  under  the  special  protection  of  the  Almighty; 
1  am  your  loving  friend, 

WILLIAM  STOUGHTON. 

The  Major  having  read  his  last  orders,  and  con 
sidering  his  commission,  found  that  he  was  obliged 
to  attend  all  orders,  &LC.  was  much  concerned 
that  he  and  his  were  prevented  in  their  intended 
projection,  if  carried  rnck  to  St.  Johns.  Then 
discoursing  with  Col.  Hathorne,  gave  him  an  ac 
count  of  what  they  had  done  at  St.  Johns,  viz. 
That  as  to  the  demolishing  the  new  fort,  they  had 
done  it,  and  got  all  their  great  guns  and  stores 
aboard  their  vessels;  and  that  if  it  had  not  been 
that  the  waters  were  so  low,  would  have 
taken  the  fort  up  the  river;  also  before  he  came 
away.  Told  him  also  that  one  of  the  prisoners 
which  he  had  taken  at  St.  John's,  upon  examina 
tion,  concerning  the  Indians  in  those  parts,  told 
him,  it  was  as  hard  for  Filboon,*  their  Governor  to 
get  one  of  their  Indians  down  to  the  water-side, 
as  to  carry  one  of  those  great  guns  upon  his  back; 

*  Villebon., 


EASTERN     INDIANS.  ***> 

and  that  they  had  an  account  of  him  and  his  foiv<>s 
coming  to  those  parts  by  a  prisoner  out  of  Boston 
goal.  Also  told  his  Honour,  that  if  they  went  back, 
it  would  wholly  disappoint  them  of  their  doing  an} 
further  service,  which  they  came  for  to  Penobscoi, 
and  places  adjacent.  But  all  was  to  no  purpose, 
his  Honour  telling  the  Major  that  he  uiust  attend 
his  orders  then  received.  And  to  encourage  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  told  them  they  should  be- 
wholly  at  the  Major's  ordering  and  command  in 
the  whole  action.  And  to  be  short  did  go  back, 
and  the  event  may  be  seen  in  Col.  Hathorae's 
journal  of  the  said  action.*'  Only  I  must  observe 
one  thing  by  the  way.  When  they  drew  off  to 
come  down  the  river  again,  Col.  Hathorne  came 
off  and  left  the  Major  behind  to  see  that  all  the 
forces  were  drawn  off,  who  coming  down  the 
river,  in  or  near  the  rear,  in  the  night  heard  a 
person  halloo,  not  knowing  at  first  but  it  might  be 
a  snare  to  draw  them  into,  but  upon  consideration, 
sent  to  see  who  or  what  he  was,  found  him  to  be 
a  negro  man  belonging  to  Marblehead,  that  had 
been  taken,  and  kept  a  prisoner  among  them  for 
some  time.  The  Major  "asked  him,  whether  he 

*  It  is  not  particularly  mentioned  about  this  expedition 
in  any  thing  extant.  It  appears  that  the  French  com 
mander,  Villebon,  had  notice  of  their  return,  and  had  pre 
pared  to  receive  them.  They  effected  a  landing,  Oct.  7; 
not,  however,  without  opposition.  They  raised  a  battery 
near  the  fort,  on  which  they  planted  two  field-pieces,  and 
commenced  an  attack  upon  it.  The  following  night  being 
very  cold,  the  English  made  fires  that  they  might  not  per 
ish;  but  this  being  a  mark  for  the  enemy *s  cannon,  were 
obliged  to  put  thera  out,  and  suffer  the  inclemencies  01'  ihe 
weather.  Their  clothing  being  as  it  were  worn  our,  ren 
dered  their  situation  intolerable.  No  mention  is  made  of 
the  number  killed  in  these  encounters, 

18 


206  WAR    WITH    THE 

could  give  any  account  of  the   Indians  in   those 
parts?   He  said  yes,    they  were  or   had  been   al 
drawn  off  from  the  sea  coast,  up  into  the  woods 
near  an  hundred  miles,  having  had  an  account  by 
a  prisoner  out  of  Boston  gaol,  that  Major  Church 
and  his  forces  were   coming   out  against  them  in 
four  brigantines,  and   four  sloops,   with  24  petti- 
augers,  meaning  whale-boats,  which  put  them  into 
a  fright,  that  notwithstanding  they  were  so  far  up 
in  the  woods,  were  afraid  to  make  fires  by  day,  les 
he  and  his  forces  should  discover  the  smokes,  am 
in  the  night  lest  they  should  see  the   light.     On 
thing  more,  I  would  just  give  a   hint  of,  that  is 
how  the  French  in  the  eastward  parts  were  much 
surprised  at  the  motion  of  the  whale-boats.     They 
said,  there  was  no  abiding  for  them  in  that  coun 
try.     And  I  have  been  informed  since,  that   soon 
after  this  expedition,  they  drew  off  from  St.  Johns 
fort  and  river.      But  to  return.      Going  all  down 
the  river,  they  embarked  and  went  homeward.   By 
the   way,  Candid  Reader,  I  would  let  you  kno>N 
of  two  things  that  proved  very  prejudicial  to 
jor  Church  and  his  forces.     The  first   was,  tha 
the  government  should  miss  it  so  much  as  to  sent 
any  prisoner  away  from   Boston  before   the  expe 
dition  was  over.     Secondly,  that  they  should  sem 
Col.  Hathorne  to  take  them  from  the  service  am 
business  they  went  to  do;  who,  with   submission 
doubtless  thought  they  did  for  the  best,  though  i 
proved  to  the  contrary.     So  shall  wind  up  with  a 
just  hint  of  what  happened,  at  their  coming  home 
to    Boston.      After   all   their  land    service,  both 
night  and  day,  the  government  took  away  all   the 
gr*at  guns,    and    warlike    stores,   and  gave    them 
not    a    penny    for    them,     except    some    powder 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  207 

and  that  they  gave  what  they  pleased  for.  And 
besides  the  Assembly  passed  a  vote,  that  they 
should  have  but  half  pay.  But  his  Honour,  the 
Lieutenant  Governor  being  much  disturbed  at 
their  so  doing,  went  into  the  Town-House,  where 
the  Representatives  were  sitting,  and  told  them, 
except  they  did  reassume  that  vote,  which  was  to 
cut  Major  Church  and  his  forces  oif  their  half-pay, 
they  should  sit  there  till  the  next  spring.  Where, 
upon  it  was  reassumed;  so  that  they  had  just 
their  bare  wages.  But  as  yet  never  had  any  al 
lowance  for  the  great  guns  and  stores;  neither  has 
Major  Church  had  any  allowance  for  all  his  travel 
and  great  expenses  in  raising  the  said  forces. 


FIFTH  #  LAST  EXPEDITION   EAST. 

IN  the  year  1703 — 4,  Major  Church  had  an  ac 
count  of  the  miserable  devastations  made  on 
Deerfield,*  a  town  in  the  westward  parts  of  this 
Province,  and  tjie  horrible  barbarities  and  cruel 
ties  exercised  on  those  poor  innocent  people,  by 
the  French  and  Indians;  especially  of  their  cruel 
ties  toward  that  worthy  gentlewoman,  Mrs.  Wil 
liams,*  and  several  others,  whom  they  marched  in 
that  extreme  season,  forcing  them  to  carry  great 
loads,  and  when  any  of  them  by  their  hard  usage 
could  not  bare  with  it,  they  were  knocked  on  the 
head,  and  so  killed  in  cool  blood.  All  which, 
with  some  other  horrible  instances  done  by  those 
barbarous  savages,  which  Major  Church  himself 
was  an  eye-witness  to,  in  his  former  travels  in  chc 


*  See  Appendix, 


WAR    WITH     TIKE 

eastward  parts,  did  much  astonish  him.     To  see  a 
woman    that  those  barbarous  savages  had  taken 
and  killed,   exposed  in  the  most  brutish  manner 
that  can  be  expressed,  with  a  young  child  seized 
fast  with  strings  to  her  breast;  which  infant  had 
no  apparent  wound,   doubtless  was  left  alive  to 
suck  his  dead  mother's  breast,  and  so  miserably 
to  perish.     Also  to  see  other  poor  children  hang 
ing  upon  fences  dead,  of  either  sex,  in  their  own 
poor  rags,  not  worth  theh-  stripping  them  of,  in 
scorn  and  derision.     Anoiher  instance  was,  of  a 
straggling  soldier,  who  was  found  at  Casco,  ex* 
posed  in  a  shameful  and  barbarous  manner.      His 
body  being  staked  up,  his  head  cut  off,  and  a  hog's 
head  set  in  the  *  room,  his  body  ripped  up,  and  his 
heart  and  inwards  taken  out,  and  private  members 
cut  off,  and  hung  with  belts  of  their  own,  the  in 
wards  at  one  side  of  his  body,  and  his  privates  at 
the  other,  in  scorn  and  derision  of  the  English  sol 
diers,  &c.     These  and  such  like  barbarities  caus 
ed  Maj.  Church  to  express  himself  to  this  purpose, 
4-  that  if  he  were  Commander  in  Chief  of  these 
provinces,  he  would  soon  put  an  end  to  those  bar 
barities  done  by  the  barbarous  enemy,  by  making 
it  his  whole  buisness  to  fight  and  destroy  those 
savages,  as  they  did  our  poor  neighbours;  which 
doubtless  might  have  been  done  if  rightly  man 
aged,  and  that  in  a  short  time."     So  that  these, 
with  the  late  inhumanities  done  upon  the  inhabi 
tants  of  Deerficlcl,  made  such  an  impression  on  his 
heart  as  cannot  well  be   expressed;  so  that  his 
blood  boiled  within  him.     Making  such  impulses 
on  his  mind,  that  he  forgot  all  former  treatments, 
which  were  enough  to  hinder  any  man,  especially 
the  said  Maj.  Church,  from  doing  any  further  sex- 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  209 

vice.  Notwithstanding  all  which,  having  a  mind 
to  take  some  satisfaction  on  the  enemy,  his  heart 
feeing  full,  took  his  horse  and  went  from  his  own 
habitation,  near  seventy  miles,  to  wait  upon  his 
Excellency,  and  offered  his  service  to  the  Queen, 
his  Excellency  and  the  country,  which  was  readi 
ly  accepted  of.  He  desired  Maj.  Church  to  draw 
a  scheme  for  the  ensuing  action,  or  actions;  so 
taking  leave  went  home,  and  drew  it;  which  is  as 
followetli. 

Tiverton,  February  5,  1703. 

MAY   IT  PLEASE   YOUR  EXCELLENCY, 

According  to  your  request,  when  I 
was  last  with  yourself,  and  in  obedience  thereun 
to,  I  present  you  with  these  following  lines,  that 
concern  the  preparation  for  next  spring's  expedi 
tion,  to  attack  the  enemy.  According  to  my  for 
mer  direction,  for  it  is  good  to  have  a  full  stroke 
at  them  first,  before  they  have  opportunity  to  run 
for  it;  for  the  first  of  our  action  will  be  our  op 
portunity  to  destroy  them,  and  to  prevent  their 
running  away,  in  way-laying  every  passage;  and 
make  them  know  we  are  in  good  earnest,  and  so 
we  being  in  a  diligent  use  of  means,  may  hope 
for  a  blessing  from  the  Almighty,  and  that  He 
will  be  pleased  to  put  a  dread  in  their  hearts,  that 
they  may  fall  before  us  and  perish.  For  my  ad 
vice  is, 

1st,  That  ten  or  twelve  hundred  good  able  sol 
diers,  well  equipped,  be  in  a  readiness  fit  for  action, 
by  the  first  of  April  at  farthest,  for  then,  will  be 
the  time  to  be  upon  action. 

2dly,  That  five  and  forty  or  fifty  good  whale- 
boats  be  had  ready,  well  fitted,  with  five  good, 
18* 


210  WAR    WITH    THE 

oars,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  good  paddles  to  each 
boat;  and  upon  the  wale  of  each  boat  five  pieces 
of  strong  leather  be  fastened  on  each  side,  to  slip 
five  strong  ash  bars  through,  so  that,  whenever 
they  land,  the  men  may  step  overboard,  and  slip 
in  said  bars  across,  and  take  up  said  boat,  that 
»she  may  not  be  hurt  against  the  rocks;  and  that 
two  suitable  brass  kettles  be  provided  to  belong 
to  each  boat,  to  cook  the  men's  victuals  in,  to 
make  their  lives  comfortable. 

3dly,  That  four  or  five  hundred  pair  of  good 
Indian  shoes  be  made  ready,  fit  for  the  service,  for 
the  English  and  Indians,  that  must  improve  the 
whale-boats,  and  birch  canoes,  for  they  will  be 
very  proper,  and  safe  for  that  service;  and  let 
there  be  a  good  store  of  cow-hides,  well  tanned, 
lor  a  supply  of  such  shoes;  and  hemp  to  make 
thread,  and  wax,  to  mend  and  make  more  such 
shoes  when  wanted,  and  a  good  store  of  awls. 

'It.hly,  That  there  be  an  hundred  large  hatchets, 
or  light  axes,  made  pretty  broad,  and  steeled  with 
the  best  steel  that  can  be  gotten,  (and  made  by 
workmen,  that  they  may  cut  well,  and  hold,  that 
the  hemlock  knots  may  not  break  or  turn  them,) 
TO  widen  the  landing  place  up  the  fulls,  for  it  may 
happen  that  we  may  get  up,  with  some  of  our 
•whale-boats,  to  their  falls  or  headquarters. 

5thly,  That  there  be  a  suitable  quantity  of 
small  bags,  or  wallets  provided,  that  every  man 
that  wants  may  have  one,  to  put  up  his  bullets  in, 
of  such  a  size  as  will  fit  his  gun,  and  not  be  serv 
ed  as  at  Casco.  That  every  man's  bag  be  so 
marked  that  he  may  not  change  it.  For  if  so, 
it  will  make  a  great  con/uaion  in  ..action.  That 
every  imai's  store  of  ball  be  weighed  to  him,  fc&at 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  211 

so  he  may  be  accountable,  and  may  not  squander 
it  away.  And  also  his  store  of  powder,  that  so 
he  may  try  his  powder  and  gun  before  action. 
And  that  every  particular  company  may  have  a 
barrel  of  powder  to  themselves,  and  so  marked 
that  it  may  by  no  means  be  changed;  that  men 
may  know  before  hand,  and  may  not  be  cheated 
out  of  their  lives,  by  having  bad  powder;  or  not 
knowing  how  to  use  it.  This  will  prove  a  great 
advantage  to  the  action. 

6thly,  That  Col.  John  Gorham,  if  he  may  be 
prevailed  with,  may  be  concerned  in  the  manage 
ment  of  the  whale-boats,  he  having  been  formerly 
concerned  in  the  eastern  parts,  and  experienced 
in  that  affair.  And  whale-men  will  be  very  ser 
viceable  in  this  expedition,  which  having  a  prom 
ise  made  to  them,  that  they  shall  be  released  in 
good  season,  to  go  a  whaling  in  the  fall,  your 
Excellency  will  have  men  enough. 

Tthly,  That  there  may  be  raised  for  this  ser 
vice  three  hundred  Indians  at  least,  and  more  if 
they  may  be  had;  for  I  know  certainly  of  my  own 
knowledge,  that  they  exceed  most  of  our  English 
in  hunting  and  skulking  in  the  woods,  being  al 
ways  used  to  it;  and  it  must  be  practised  if  ever 
we  intend  to  destroy  those  Indian  enemies. 

Sthly,  That  the  soldiers  already  out  eastward 
in  the  service,  men  of  known  judgment,  may  take 
a  survey  of  them  and  their  arms;  and  see  if  their 
arms  be  good,  and  that  they  know  how  to  use 
them,  in  shooting  right  at  a  mark;  and  that  they 
be  men  of  good  reason  and  sence,  to  know  how 
to  manage  themselves  in  so  difficult  a  piece  of  ser 
vice,  as  this  Indian  hunting  is;  for  bad  men  are 
but  a  clogg  and  hindrance  to  an  army,  being  a 


212  WAR    WITH    THE 

trouble  and  vexation  to  good  commanders,  and  so 
many  mouths  to  devour  the  country's  provision, 
and  a  hindrance  to  all  good  action. 

9thly,  That  special  care  be  had  in  taking  up 
the  whale-boats,  that  they  be  good  and  fit  for  that 
service  ;  so  that  the  country  be  not  cheated,  as 
formerly,  in  having  rotten  boats  ;  and  as  much 
care  that  the  owners  may  have  good  satisfaction 
for  them. 

lOthly,  That  the  tenders  or  transports,  vessels 
to  be  improved  in  this  action,  be  good  decked 
vessels,  not  too  big,  because  of  going  up  several 
rivers;  having  four  or  six  small  guns  apiece  for4 
defence,  and  the  fewer  men  will  defend  them;  and 
there  are  enough  such  vessels  to  be  had. 

llthly,  To  conclude  all,  if  your  Excellency 
will  be  pleased  to  make  yourself  great,  and  us  a 
happy  people,  as  to  the  destroying  of  our  enemies, 
and  easing  of  our  taxes,  &c.  be  pleased  to  draw 
forth  all  those  forces  now  in  pay  in  all  the  eastward 
parts,  both  at  Saco  and  Casco  Bay;  for  those  two 
trading  houses  never  did  any  good,  nor  ever  will, 
and  are  not  worthy  the  name  of  Queen's  forts; 
and  the  first  building  of  them  had  no  other  ellect 
than  to  lay  us  under  tribute  to  that  wretched  pa 
gan  crew,  and  1  hope  they  will  never  be  wanted 
for  what  they  were  first  built.  But  sure  it  is,  they 
are  very  serviceable  to  them,  for  they  get  many  a 
good  advantage  of  us  to  destroy  our  men,  and 
laugh  at  us  for  our  folly,  that  we  should  be  at  so 
much  cost  and  trouble*  to  do  a  thing  that  does  us  so 
much  harm,  and  no  manner  of  good.  But  to  the 
contrary,  when  they  see  all  our  forces  drawn  forth, 
and  in  the  pursuit  of  them,  they  will  think  that 
we  begin  to  be  roused  up,  and  to  be  awakened, 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 

and  will  not  be  satisfied  with  what  they  have 
pleased  to  leave  us,  but  are  resolved  to  retake 
from  them  what  they  formerly  took  from  us,  and 
drive  them  out  of  their  country  also.  The  which 
being  done,  then  to  build  a  fort  at  a  suitable  time, 
and  in  a  convenient  place;  and  it  will  be  very 
honourable  to  your  Excellency,  and  of  great  ser 
vice  to  her  Majesty,  and  to  the  enlargement  of 
her  Majesty's  government.  The  place  meant  is 
at  Port  Royal. 

I2thly,  That  the  objection  made  against  draw 
ing  off  the  forces  in  the  eastward  parts  will  be  no 
damage  to  the  inhabitants;  for  former  experience 
teaches  us,  that  so  soon  as  drawn  into  their  coun 
try,  they  will  presently  forsake  ours  to  take  care 
of  their  own.  That  there  be  no  failure  in  mak 
ing  preparation  of  these  things  aforementioned, 
(for  many  times  the  want  of  small  things  prevents 
the  completing  of  great  actions;)  and  that  every 
thing  be  in  readiness  before  the  forces  be  raised, 
to  prevent  charges,  and  the  enemy  having  intelli 
gence.  And  that  the  General  Court  be  moved 
to  make  suitable  acts,  for  the  encouraging  both 
English  and  Indians;  that  so  men  of  buisness  may 
freely  offer  estates  and  concerns  to  serve  the 
publick. 

Thus  hoping  what  I  have  taken  the  pains  to 
write  in  the  sincerity  of  my  heart  and  good  affec 
tions,  will  be  well  accepted;  I  make  bold  to  sub 
scribe,  as  I  am,  your  Excellency's  most  devoted 
humble  servant, 

BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 

Then  returning  to  his  Excellency  presented  the 
said  scheme,  which  his  Excellency  approved  of ; 


214  WAR    WITH    THE 

and  returned  it  again  to  Maj.  Church,  and  desired 
him  to  see  that  every  thing  was  provided,  telling 
him  that  he  should  have  an  order  from  the  Commis 
sary  General  to  proceed.  Then  returned  home 
and  made  it  his  whole  business  to  provide  oars  and 
paddles,  and  a  vessel  to  carry  them  round;  and 
then  returned  again  to  his  Excellency,  who  gave 
him  a  commission.  Which  is  as  followeth. 

JOSEPH  DUDLEY,*  Esq.  Captain  General 
and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and  over  her  Majes 
ty's  Provinces  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  and 
New-Hampshire,  in  New-England,  in  Ameri 
ca,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same. 

To  BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  Esq.  Greeting. 
"  BY  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority,  in  and 
by  her  Majesty's  royal  commission,  to  me  grant 
ed,  I  do  by  these  presents,  reppsing  special  trust 
and  confidence  in  your  loyalty,  courage,  and  good 
conduct,  constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be  Colonel 
of  all  the  forces  raised,  or  to  be  raised  for.  her  Ma 
jesty's  service,  against  the  French  and.  Indian,  ene 
my  and  rebels,  that  shall  be  improved  in  the  ser 
vice  to  the  eastward  of  Casco  Bay;  and  to  be  Cap 
tain  of  the  first  company  of  the  said  forces.  You  are 
therefore  carefully  and  dilligently  to  perform  the 

*  Mr.  Dudley  was  educated- at  Harvard  College.  When 
Sir  Edmund  Andros  was  Governor,  Mr.  Dudley  was  pres 
ident  of  the  Council  and  wa's  seized  upon  as  belonging  to 
his  party.  He  was  imprisoned  for  sometime,  and  treated 
with  inhumanity.  King  William  sent  for  him  to  England. 
He  embarked  Feb.  1689.  In  1690,  he  went  over  to  New- 
York,  and  was  Chief  Justice  of  that  province.  But  he 
never  was  satisfied  any  where  but  in  the  Chief  Magistracy 
of  Massachusetts.  He  was  succeeded  by  Governor  Shute, 
1716,  and  died,  1720. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  215 

duty  of  a  Colonel  and  Captain  by  leading,  order 
ing  and  exercising  the  said  regiment  and  compa 
ny  in  arms,  both  inferior  officers  and  soldiers,  and 
to  keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline.  Here 
by  commanding  them  to  obey  you  as  their  Colonel 
and  Captain  ;  and  with  them  to  do  and  execute  all 
acts  of  hostility  against  the  said  enemy  and  rebels. 
And  you  are  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders 
and  directions  as  you  shall  receive  from  myself, 
or  other  your  superior  officer,  according  to  the 
rules  and  discipline  of  war,  pursuant  to  the  trust 
reposed  in  you.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal 
at  arms,  at  Boston,  the  18th  day  of  March,  in 
the  third  year  of  her  Majesty's  reign,  Anno 
Dom.  1703. 

By  his  Excellency's  command, 

J.  DUDLEY. 
ISAAC  ADDINGTON,  Sec. 

Col.  Church  no  sooner  received  his  commission, 
but  proceeded  to  the  raising  of  men  volunteers, 
by  going  into  every  town  within  the  three  coun 
ties,  which  were  formerly  Plymouth  government, 
and  advising  with  the  chief  officer  of  each  com 
pany,  to  call  his  company  together,  that  so  he 
might  have  the  better  opportunity  to  discourse 
and  encourage  them  to  serve  their  Queen  and 
country.  Treating  them  with  drink  convenient, 
told  them  he  did  not  doubt  but  with  God's  bless 
ing  to  bring  them  all  home  again.  All  which, 
with  many  other  arguments,  animated  their 
hearts  to  do  service,  so  that  he  enlisted  out  of 
some  companies  near  twenty  men,  and  others  fif 
teen.  He  having  raised  a  sufficient  number  of 
English  soldiers,  proceeded  to  the  enlisting  of 


216  WAR    WITH    THE 

Indians  in  all  those  parts  where  they  dwelt,  which 
was  a  great  fatigue  and  expense  ;  being  a  people 
that  need  much   treating,  especially  with   drink, 
&c.     Having  enlisted  the   most  of  his  soldiers  in 
those  parts,  who  daily  lay  upon  him,  and  were  not 
less  than  51.  per  day  expences,  some  days,  in  vic 
tuals  and  drink  ;  who  doubtless  thought  (especial 
ly  the  English)  that  the  country  would  have  re 
imbursed   it  again,    otherwise  they   would   have 
hardly   accepted  it  of  him.     Col.    Church's  sol 
diers  both   English   and   Indians  in  those   parts 
being  raised,  he  marched   them  all  down  to  Nan- 
tasket,  according  to  his   Excellency's  directions. 
Where  being  come,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
commissioned  to  be  commanders  of  each  particu 
lar  company,  viz.  Lieut.  Col.  Gorham,  Captains 
John    Brown,   Constant    Church,    James    Cole, 
John  Dyer,  John  Cook,  Caleb  Williamson   and 
Edward    Church,    of  the  forces    raised    by  Col. 
Church,  each  company  being  filled  up  with  Eng 
lish  and  Indians  as  they  agreed  among  themselves, 
and  by  the  Colonel's,    directions.     Capt.   Lamb, 
and  Capt.   Mirick's  company,    who  were  raised 
by  his  Excellency's    direction,   were    ordered  to 
join  those  aforesaid,  under  the  command   of  Col. 
Church.     Matters  being  brought  thus  far  on,  Col. 
Church  waited  upon  his  Excellency  at  Boston   to 
know  his  pleasure,  what  further  measures  were  to 
be   taken  ;  and  did   humbly  move  that  they  might 
have  liberty  in  their  instructions    to  make    an   at 
tack  uponVort-Royal.     Being  very  well  satisfied 
in  his  opinion,  that  with  the  blessing  of  God,  what 
forces  they  had  or  should  have  ;  and  whale-boats 
so  well  tilted  with  oars  and  paddles,    as  they  had 
with   them,  mi«hfr  be  sufficient  to   have  taken  it. 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 

His  Excellency,  looking  upon  Col.   Church,  re 
plied,  he  could  not  admit  of  that,  by  reason  of 
the  advice  of  her   Majesty's  Council,  he  had  to 
write  to   her  Majesty  about  the   taking  of  Port- 
Royal  fort,  and  how  it  should  be  disposed  of  when 
taken,  &,c.      However,   Col.    Church  proceeded 
to  get  every  thing   ready  for  the  forces  down  at 
Nantasket,  which  was   the  place  of  parade.     He 
happening  one    day  to   be  at   Capt.    Belcher's, 
where   his  Excellency   happened  to    come,    was 
pleased  to  order  Colonel   Church  to  put  on  his 
sword,  and  walk  with  him  up  the  common,  which 
he  readily  complied  with.     Where  being   come 
he  saw  two  mortar  pieces*  with  shells,  and  an   en 
gineer  trying   with   them,   to  throw  a  shell  from 
them  to  any  spot  of  ground  where  he  said  it  should 
fall.     Which,  when  Col.  Church  had  seen   done, 
gave  him  great  encouragement  and   hopes  that  it 
would  promote  their  going  to  Port  Royal,   which 
he  had  solicited.  Returning  from  thence,  and  com 
ing  near  to  Capt.  William  Clark's  house,  over 
against  the   Horse-shoe,  his   Excellency  was   in 
vited  by  Capt.   Clark  to  walk  over  and  take  a 
glass  of  wine,  which  he  was  pleased  to  accept  of, 
and   took  Col.   Church  with  him.     And  in  the 
time    they   were   taking    a   glass   of    wine,   Col. 
Church  once  more  presumed  to  say  to  his  Excel 
lency,   "  Sir,  I  hope  that  now  we  shall  go  to  Poit 
Royal  in  order  to  take   it;  those   mortars 'being 
very  suitable   for  such  an  enterprise."     His  Ex 
cellency  was    pleased  to  reply  ;   u  Col.   Church, 
you   must  say  no  more  of  that  matter,  for  the  let 
ter  I  told  you  of,  I  wrote  by  the   advice  of  her 
Majesty's  Council,  now  lies  at  home  on  the  board 
before  the  Lor Js  Commissioners  of  her  Majesty's 
19 


WAR    WITH    THE 

foreign  plantations/5  &c.  After  seme  days 
every  thing  being  ready  to  embark,  Col.  Church 
received  his  instructions,  which  are  as  followeth. 

By  his  Excellency  JOSEPH  DUDLEY,  Esq.  Cap 
tain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief,  in  and 
over  her  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachu 
setts-Bay,  &c.  in  New-England,  and  Vice-Ad- 
miral  of  the  same. 

INSTRUCTIONS  for  Colonel  BENJAMIN  CHURCH, 
in  the  present  expedition. 

"  In  pursuance  of  the  Commission  given  to  you, 
to  take  the  chief  command  of  the  land  and  sea 
forces  by  me  raised,  equipped,  and  set  forth  on  her 
Majesty's  service,  against  her  open  declared  ene 
mies  the  French  and  Indian  rebels,  you  are  to 
observe  the  following  instructions. 

"  First,  you  are  to  take  care,  that  the  duties 
of  religion  be  attended  to  on  board  the  several  ves 
sels,  and  in  the  several  companies  under  your 
command,  by  daily  prayers  unto  God,  and  m.dirg 
his  holy  word.  And  that  the  Lord's  day  be  ob 
served  and  duly  sanctified  to  the  utmost  of  your 
power,  as  far  as  the  circumstances  and  necessity 
of  the  service  can  admit,  that  you  may  have  the 
presence  of  God  with,  and  obtain  his  blessing  on, 
your  undertaking. 

tg  You  are  to  to  take  care,  that  your  soldiers 
have  their  due  allowance  of  provisions  and  other 
necessaries;  that  their  arms  be  well  fixed,  and  kept 
fit  for  service,  and  that  tin  y  be  furnished  with  a 
suitable  quantity  of  }o valor  and  ball,  and  be  al 
ways  in  readiness  to  pass  upon  duty. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  219 

"  That  good  order  and  discipline  be  maintained, 
and  all  disorders,  drunkenness,  profane  swearing, 
iursing,  omission  or  neglect  of  duty,  disobedience 
to  officers,  mutiny,  desertion,  and  sedition  be  duly 
punished  according  to  the  rules  and  articles  of  \\;i; 
Ihe  which  you  are  once  a  month,  or  oftener,  to 
•3ause  to  be  published,  and  made  known  to  your 
)fficers  and  soldiers  for  their  observance  and  fit- 
Section  in  their  duty.  Lit  notorious  and  capital 
offenders  be  sent  away  to  the  next  garrisons,  th>  » • 
;o  be  imprisoned  until  they  can  be  proceeded  v* 

u  Let  the  sick  and  wounded  be  carefully  looked 
ifter,  and  accommodated  after  the  best  manner 
four  circumstances  will  admit  of,  and  be  sent  ei- 
'her  to  Casco-Fort,  or  to  Mr.  Peperel's  at  Kitte- 
j-y,*  which  may  be  the  easier,  so  soon  as  you  can. 

"  You  are  forthwith  to  send  away  the  forces  and 
ptores  by  the  transports,  with  the  whale-boats  to 
Piscataqua,  ou  Kittery  side,  there  to  attend  your 
joining;  whither  you  are  to  follow  them  with  all 
sxpedition. 

"  You  are  to   embark  in  the  Province-Galley, 
2apt.  Southack,f  commander,  and  let  Lieut.  Co!.. 
.G-orham  go  on  board  Capt.  Gallop;  who  are  both 
Directed  to  attend  your  motion  on  the  French  sid<-, 
ifter  which  they  are  to  return.     Let   the  com 
manders  of  all  the  store  sloops  and  transports  know 
,hat  they  sail,  anchor,  and  serve  at  your  discretion. 

"  When  you  sail  from  Piscataqua,  keep  at  such 
listance  off  the  shore,  that  you  be  not  observed 
)y  the  enemy  to  alarm  them.  Stop  at  Montini- 
ms,  and  there  embark  the  forces  in  the  whale- 

*  Nearly  opposite,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
t  Reported  as  a  man  of  great  personal  courage,  but  not 
dequate  to  any  considerable  command. 


220  WAR    WITH    THE 

boats  for  the  main,  to  range  that  part  of  the  coun 
try  in  search  of  the  enemy,  to  Mount-Desart, 
sending  the  vessels  to  meet  you  there;  and  after 
having  refreshed  and  recruited  your  soldiers,  pro 
ceed  to  Machias,  and  from  thence  to  Passame- 
quado;*  and  having  effected  what  spoils  you  pos 
sibly  may  upon  the  enemy  in  those  parts,  embark 
on  your  vessels  for  Menis  and  Signecto,f  to  Port 
ll>yd  gut  Use  all  possible  methods  for  the 
burning  and  destroying  of  the  enemy's  houses, 
rmd  breaking  the  darns  of  their  corn  grounds  in 
the  said  several  places,  and  make  what  other  Spoils 
you  can  upon  them,  and  bring  away  the  prisoners. 
In  your  return  call  at  Penobscot,  and  do  what 
you  can  there,  and  so  proceed  westward. 

u  This  will  probably  employ  you  a  month  or  six 
weeks;  when  you  will  draw  together  again,  and  by 
the  latter  end  of  June  consider  whether  you  can 
inarch  to  Norrigewack,J  or  other  paiAts  of  their 
planting,  to  destroy  their  corn  and  settlements, 
and  keep  the  expedition  on  foot  until  the  middle 
of  August  next. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  particularity  of  the  afore 
going  instruction,  I  lay  you  under  no  restraint,  be 
cause  I  am  well  assured  of  your  courage,  care, 
caution  and  industry;  but  refer  you  to  your  own 
resolves,  by  the  advice  of  your  Commissioned  Of 
ficers,  not  under  the  degree  of  Captains,  and  the 
sea  Commissioned  Captains,  whom  you  will,  as 
often  as  you  can,  advise  with,  according  to  the  in 
telligence  you  may  receive,  or  as  you  may  find 
needful  upon  the  spot. 

"  You  are,  by  every  opportunity,  and  once  a 
Vv -<>ek  certainly,  by  some  means,  either  by  the  way 

*  Passioiaquady.         |  Chi^necto.         *  Norridgewock. 


EAStERN    INDIANS.  221 

f  Casco,  Piscataqua,  or  otherwise  to  acquaint 
ne  of  your  proceedings,  and  all  occurrences,  and 
vhat  may  be  further  necessary  for  the  service. 
!lnd  to  observe  such  further  and  other  instructions 
is  you  shall  receive  from  myself. 

"  As  often  as  you  may,  advise  with  Capt.  Smith 
ind  Capt.  Rogers,  Commanders  of  her  Majesty's 
;hips. 

"  Let  your  Minister,  Commissary  and  Surgeons 
je  treated  with  just  respects.  I  pray  to  God  to 
reserve,  prosper  and  succeed  you. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  at  Boston,  the  fourth 
lay  of  May,  1704  "  J.  DUDLEY." 

Pursuant  to  his  instructions  lie  sent  away  his 
ransports  and  forces  to  Piscataqua,  but  was  oblig- 
id  himself  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  by  land  to 
Piscataqua,  in  order  to  raise  more  forces  in  the 
vay  thither;  and  did  raise  a  company  under  the 
jommand  of  Capt.  Harridon.  Took  care  also  to 
)rovide  a  pilot  for  them  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy, 

Jol.  Church  being  directed  to  one '—  Fellows, 

rvhom  he  met  with  at  Ipswich.  And  going  from 
hence  to  Piscataqua  with  his  Excellency,  was 
net  by  that  worthy  gentleman  Maj.  Winthrop 
Hilton,*  who  was  very  helpful  to  him  in  the  whole 
expedition,  whose  name  and  memory  ought  not  to 
DC  forgotten.  Being  ready  to  embark  from  Pis- 
3ataqua;  Col.  Church  requested  the  Commanders 

*  Afterwards  Col.  Hilton.  He  is  mentioned  by  other 
writers,  as  a  "  meritorious  citizen."  He  had  been  success- 
ul  in  capturing  Indians,  and  like  Maj.  Waldron,  was  doom- 
Mi  to  fall  by  savage  hands.  In  1710,  Col.  Hilton  with  two 
•thers,  were  am  bashed  and  killed  by  Indians  in  Exeter,- 
Stew-Hampshire. 

19* 


<  WAR    WITH    THE 

cf  her  Majesty's  ships,  Oapt.  Smith  and  Capt. 
Rogers,  to  tarry  at  Piseataqua  a  fortnight,  that  so 
Ibe.y  might  noi  be  discovered  by  the  enemy  before 
he  had  done  some  spoil  upon  them.  Then  moving 
in  their  transports,  as  directed,  got  safe  into  Mon- 
t<nieus,  undiscovered  by  the  enemy.  Next  morn 
ing  early  fitted  out  two  whale-boats  with  men, 
Capt.  John  Cook  in  one,  and  Capt.  Constant 
Church  in  the  other,  and  sent  them  to  Green-Isl 
and,  upon  a  discovery.  And  coming  there  they 
parted,  one  went  to  one  part,  and  the  other  to 
another  part,  that  so  they  might  not  miss  of  what 
could  be  discovered.  Here  they  met  with  old 
Ij'i  fan  re  with  his  two  son?,  Thomas  and  Timothy, 
rnd  a  Canada  Indian.  The  enemy  seeing  that 
t'uy  were  discovered,  threw  down  their  ducks  and 
tg^s,  Laving  got  a  considerable  quantity  of  each, 
arid  ran  to  their  canoes,  got  into  them,  and  stood 
directly  for  the  Main.  Looking  behind  them, 
perceived  the  whale-boats  to  gain  so  fast  upon 
them,  clapt  side  by  side,  and  all  four  got  into  one 
canoe,  which  proved  of  little  advantage  to  them, 
for  the  whale-boats  gained  so  much  upon  them, 
and  got  so  near  that  Capt.  Cook,  firing  at  the 
steerVman,  which  was  the  Indian,  and  happened 
to  graze  his  skull,  and  quite  spoiled  his  paddling. 
\Jpon  which  old  jLafaure  and  sons,  seeing  their 
companion's  condition,  soon  begged  for  quarter, 
and  had  it  granted.  The  two  Captains  with  their 
success  presently  returned  to  their  Commander, 
taking  care  that  their  captives  should  not  discourse 
together  before  they  were  examined;  when  brought 
to  Col.  Church,  he  ordered  them  to  be  apart,  and 
first  proceeded  to  examine  old  Lafaure,  whom  he 
found  to  be  very  surly  and  cross,  so  that  he  cjuid 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  ££3 

gain  no  manner  of  intelligence  by  him.  .Upon 
which  the  Commander  was  resolved  to  put  in  prac 
tice  what  he  had  formerly  done  at  Senecto.  Or 
dering  the  Indians  to  make  two  large  heaps  of 
dry  wood,  at  some  distance  one  from  the  other, 
arid  to  set  a  large  stake  in  the  ground,  close  to 
each  heap;  then  ordered  the  two  sons,  Thomas 
and  Timothy,  to  be  brought,  and  to  be  bound  to 
the  stakes;  also  ordering  his  Indians  to  paint  them 
selves  with  colours,  which  they  had  brought  for 
that  use.  Then  the  Colonel  proceeded  to  exam 
ine  first  Timothy,  and  told  him,  he  had  examined 
his  father  already,  and  that  if  he  told  him  the 
truth  he  would  save  his  life,  and  take  him  into  his 
service,  and  that  he  should  have  good  pay  and 
live  well.  He  answered,  that  he  would  tell  him 
the  truth,  and  gave  him  an  account  of  every  thing 
he  knew,  which  was  all  minuted  down.  He  be 
ing  asked  whether  his  brother  Thomas  did  not 
know  more  than  he  ?  his  answer  was,  Yes,  for 
his  brother  Thomas  had  a  Commission  sent  him 
from  the  Governor  of  Canada,  to  command  a  com 
pany  of  Indians,  who  were  gathered  together  at  a 
place  where  some  French  gentlemen  lately  arriv 
ed  from  Canada,  who  were  Officers  to  command 
the  rest  that  were  to  go  westward  to  fight  the 
English,  and  that  there  was  sent  to  his  father  and 
brother  Tom,  a  considerable  quantity  of  flower, 
fruit,  ammunition  and  stores,  for  the  supply  of  the 
said  army.  He  being  asked,  whether  he  could 
pilot  our  forces  to  them?  said  No;  but  his  broth 
er  Tom  could,  for  he  had  hid  it,  and  that  he  was 
not  then  with  him.  The  Colonel  asked  him,  what 
gentlemen  those  were  that  came  from  Canada? 
HJ  answered  Monsieur  Gourdan,  and  Mr.  Shar- 


WAR    WITH    THE 

kee.  B^-ing  asked  where  they  were?  answered, 
at  Passamequado,  building  a  fort.  Being  asked 
what  number  of  Indians  and  French  there  were 
at  Penobscot  ?  he  answered,  there  were  several 
families,  but  they  lived  scattering.  Asked  him 
further,  if  he  would  pilot  our  forces  thither?  An 
swered,  he  would  if  the  Commander  would  not  let 
the  savages  roast  him.  Upon  which  the  Colonel 
ordered  him  to  be  loosed  from  the  stake,  and  took 
him  by  the  hand,  told  him,  he  would  be  as  kind  to 
him  as  his  own  father;  at  which  he  seemed  to  be 
very  thankful.  And  then  the  Colonel  proceeded 
to  examine  his  brother  Tom,  and  told  him  that  he 
had  examined  his  father  and  brother,  and  that  his 
brother  had  told  him  every  tittle  he  knew,  and 
that  he  knew  more  than  his  brother  Timothy  did; 
and  that  if  he  would  be  ingenuous  and  confess  all 
he  knew,  he  should  fare  as  well  as  his  brother; 
but  if  not,  the  savages  should  roast  him.  Where 
upon  he  solemnly  promised  that  he  would,  and 
that  he  would  pilot  him  to  every  thing  he  knew, 
to  the  value  of  a  knife  and  sheath,  which  without 
doubt  he  did.  Then  the  Colonel  immediately 
gave  orders  for  the  whale-boats  to  be  ready,  and 
went  directly  over  where  the  said  goods  and  stores 
were,  and  found  them  as  informed,  took  them  on 
board  the  boats,  and  returned  to  their  transports. 
And  ordering  provisions  to  be  put  into  every  man's 
knapsack  for  six  or  eight  days,  in  the  dusk  of  the 
evening  left  their  transports,  with  orders  how  they 
should  act.  Then  went  directly  for  the  main  land 
of  Penobscot,  and  mouth  of  that  river,  with  their 
pilots  Tom  and  Timothy,  who  carried  them  direct 
ly  to  every  place  and  habitation,  both  of  French 
and  Indians  thereabouts,  with  the  assistance  of 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  225 

one  De  Young,  whom  they  carried  out  of  Boston 
gaol  for  the  same  purpose,  and  he  was  very  ser 
viceable  to  them.  Beinsr  there  we  killed  and 

o 

took   every  on'3,  both  French   and  Indians,   not 
knowing  that  any  one  did  escape  in  all  Penobscot 
Among  those  that  were  taken  was  St.  Casteen's 
daughter,  who  said  that  her  husband  was  gone  to 
France,  to  her   father  Monsieur  Casteen.     She 
having  her  children  with  her,  the  Commander  was 
very  kind  to  her  and  them.      All   the   prisoners 
that  were  then  taken,  held  to  one  story  in  general, 
which  they  had  from  Lafaure's  sons.     That  there 
were  no  more  Indians  thereabouts,  but  enough  of 
them  at  Passamequado;  upon  which  they  soon  re 
turned  to  the  transports  with  their  prisoners  and 
plunder.     The  Commander  giving  order  immedi 
ately  for  the  soldiers  in  the  whale-boats  to  have  a 
recruit  of  provisions  for  a  further  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  giving  orders  to  the  transports  to  stay  a 
few  days  more  there,  and  then  go  to  Mount-Des- 
art,  and  there  to  stay  for  her  Majesty's  ships,  who 
were  directed  to  come  thither,  and  wait  his  further 
order.     Then  Col.  Church  with  his  forces  i«ime>- 
diately  embarked  on  board  their  whale-boats,  and 
proceeded  to  scour  the  coast,  and  to  try  if  they 
could  discover  any  of  the  enemy  coming  from  Pas 
samequado;  making  their  stops  in  the  daytime  at 
all  the  points  and  places  were  they  where  certain 
the  enemy  would  land,  or  come  by  with  their  ca 
noes,  and  at  night  to  their  paddles.     Then  com 
ing  near  where  the  vessels  were  ordered  to  come, 
having  made  no  discovery  of  the  enemy,  went  di 
rectly  to  Mount-Desart,  where  the  transports  were 
just  come;  arid  taking  some  provisions  for  his  sol 
diers,  gave  direction  for  the  ships  and  transports 


226  WAR    WITH    THE 

in  six  days  to  come  directly  to  Passamequado, 
where  they  should  find  him  and  his  forces.  Then 
immediately  moved  away  in  the  whale-boats,  and 
made  diligent  search  along  shore,  as  formerly,  in 
specting  all  places  where  the  enemy  were  likely 
to  lurk  ,  particularly  at  Muchias;  but  found  nei 
ther  fires  nor  tracks.  Coming  afterwards  to  the 
west  harbour  at  Passamequado,  'where  they  enter 
ed  upon  action;  an  account  whereof  Col.  Church 
did  communicate  to  his  Excellency,  being  as 
followeth. 

MAY   IT  PLEASE   YOUR  EXCELLENCY, 

t;  I  receivec)  yours  of  this  instant, 
October  9th,  with  the  two  inclosed  informations, 
that  concern  my  actions  at  Passamequado,  which 
I  will  give  a  just  and  true  account  of  as  near  as 
I  possibly  can,  viz.  on  the  7th  of  June  last,  1704. 
In  the  evening  we  entered  in  at  the  westward  har- 
b;>ur  at  said  Passamequado  ;  coming  up  said  har 
bour  to  an  island,  where  landing,  we  came  to  a 
French  house  and  took  a  French  woman  and 
children,  the  woman  upon  her  examination  said, 
her  husband  was  abroad  a  fishing.  I  asked  her 
whether  there  were  any  Indians  thereabouts  1 
She  said  yes  ;  there  were  a  great  many,  and  sev 
eral  on  that  island.  I  asked  her,  whether  she 
could  pilot  me  to  them  ?  Said  no  ;  they  hid  in 
the  woods.  I  asked  her  when  she  saw  them  ? 
Answered,  just  now,  or  a  little  while  since.  I 
asked  her  whether  she  knew  where  they  had  laid 
the  canoes  ?  She  answered,  .  No  ;  they  carried 
their  canoes  into  the  woods  with  them.  We  then 
hastened  away  along  shore,  seizing  what  prison 
ers  we  could,  taking  old  Lotriel  and  his  family. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  221 

This  intelligence  caused  me  to  leave  Col.  Gor- 
ham,   and  a  considerable  part  of  my  men,    and 
boats,  with  him  at  that  island,  partly  to  guard  and 
secure  those  prisoners,  being  sensible  it  would  be 
a  great  trouble  to  have  them  to  secure  and  guard 
at  our  next  landing,  where  I  did  really  expect, 
and  hoped  to  have  an  opportunity  to  fight  our  In 
dian  enemies.     For  all  our  French  prisoners  that 
we  had  taken  at  Penobscot,  and  along  shore,  had 
informed  us,   that  when  we  came  to  the  place 
where  these  Canada  gentlemen  lived,  we   should 
certainly  meet  with  the  savages  to  fight  us.   (Those 
being  the  only  men  that  set  the  Indians   against 
us,  or  upon  us,  and  were  newly  come  from  Cana 
da,  to   manage   the  war  against  us,)  pleading  in 
this  account  and  information  their  own  innocency, 
and  partly  in  hopes  that  he,  the  said  Col.  Gorham 
would  have  a  good  opportunity  in  the  morning  to 
destroy  some  of  those  our  enemies,    (we  were  in 
formed  by  the  said  French  woman  as  above)  with 
the  use  of  his  boats,  as  I  had  given  direction.  Or 
dering  also  Maj.  Hilton  to  pass  over  to  the  next 
island,  that   lay  east  of  us,   with  a  small  party  of 
men  and  boats,  to  surprise  and  destroy  any  of  the 
enemy  that  in  their  canoes   might  go  here   and 
there,  from  any  place,  to   make  their  flight  from 
us,  and  as  he  had  opportunity,  to  take  any  French 
prisoners.     We  then  immediately  moved  up  the 
river,  in  the  dark  night,  through   great  difficulty, 
by  reason  of  the  eddies  and  whirlpools,  made  with 
the  fierceness  of  the   current.     And  here   it  may 
be  hinted,  that  we  had   information   that  Lotriel 
had  lost  part  of  his  family  passing  over  to  the  next 
island,    falling    into    one    of    those    eddies    were 
drowned,  which  the  two  pilots  told  to  -discourage 


229  WAR    WITH    THE 

me.     But  I   said  "  nothing  of  that  nature   shall 
do  it  ;55  for  I  was  resolved  to  venture  up,   and 
therefore  forthwith  paddling  our  boats  as  privately 
as  we  could,  and  with  as   much  expedition  as  we 
could  make  with  our  paddles,  and  the  help  of  a 
strong  tide,   we  came  up  to  Monsieur  Gourdan's 
a  little  before  day.     Where  taking  notice  of  the 
shore,  and  finding  it  somewhat  open  and  clear,  I 
ordered  Capt.  Mirick   and    Capt.    Cole,   having 
English  companies,  to   tarry  with   several  of  the 
boats,  to  be  ready,  that  if  any  of  the  enemy  should 
come  down  out  of  the  brush  into  the  bay,  (it  being 
very  broad  in  that  place)  with  their  canoes,  that 
they  might  take  and  destroy  them.     Ordering  the 
remainder  of  the  army,   being   landed,   with  my 
self  and  the  other  officers  to  march  up  into  the 
woods,  with  a  wide  front,  and  to  keep  at  a  consid 
erable   distance  ;  for  that  if  they  should  run   in 
heaps  the  enemy  would  have   the  greater  advan 
tage.      And  further  directing  them,  that,  if  possi 
ble,   they   should   destroy   the   enemy  with  their 
hatchets,   and   not  fire   a  gun.     This  order  I  al 
ways  gave  at  landing,  telling  them   the  inconven- 
iency  of  firing,  in  that  it  might  be,  first  dangerous 
to  themselves  ;  they  being  many  of  them  young 
soldiers.     (As  I  had  some  time  observed,  that  one 
or  two  guns  being  fired,  many  others   would  fire, 
at  they  knew  not  what ;  as  happened  presently  af 
ter.)     And  it  would  alarm    the   enemy,  and  give 
them  the  opportunity  to  make  their   escape  ;  and 
it   might  alarm  the  whole   country,    and  also  pre 
vent  all  further  action  from  taking  effect.   Orders 
being  thus  passed,  we  moved  directly  towards  the 
woods.     Lc  Paver's  son  directing  us  to   a  little 
hut  or  wigwam,  wljich  we   immediately  surround- 


EASTEHN    IND1A> 


ed  with  a  few  men,  the  rest  marching  directly  up 

into  the  woods,  to  see  what  wigwams  or  huts  they 

could  discover.     Myself  made'  a  little  stop,  order 

ing  the  pilot  to  tell  them   in  the   hut,    that  they 

were  surrounded  with  an   army,  and  that  if  they 

would  come  forth,  and  surrender  themselves,  they 

should  have  good  quarter,  but  if  not,  they  should 

all  be  knocked  on  the  head  and  die.   One  of  them 

showed  himself.     I  asked  who  he  was  ?     He  said 

Gourdan;  and  begged  for  quarter.      I  told  him, 

he  should    have    good    quarter  ;  adding    further, 

mat  if  there  were   any  more   in  the   house,   they 

should   come  out.      Then    came    out    two    men  ; 

Gourdan  said  they  were  his  sons,  and  asked  quar- 

;teribr    them,    which    was    also    granted.      Thee 

:came  out  a  woman  and  a  little  boy  ;  she  fell  up- 

ion  her  knees,    begged    quarter  for    herself   and 

children,  and  that  I  would   not  suffer  the  Indians 

to  kill  them.     I  told  them  they  should  have  good 

quarter,    and  not  be  hurt.     After  which  I  order 

ed  a  small  guard  over  them,  and   so  moved   pre 

sently   up,   with   the   rest  of  my    company,   after 

them  that  were  gone  before  ;  but   looking  on  my 

right    hand,  over  a  little    run,    I   saw    something 

look  black  just  by  me,  stopped  ;  and  heard  a  talk 

ing  ;  stepped  over,  and  saw  a  little  hut  or  wigwam 

with  a  crowd  of  people  round  about  it,  which  was 

co  irary  to   my    former    directions  ;  asked    them 

what    they    were   doing  ?     They   replied,    there 

were   some  of  the   enemy  in  a  house,  and   would 

:  not  come  out.  I  asked,  what  house  1     They  said, 

a  bark  house.      I  hastily  bid   them  pull  it   down, 

and  knock  them  on  the  head,  never  asking  whether 

they  were  French  or  Indians  ;  they  bein^  all  ene- 

20 


230  WAR    WITH    THE 

tnies  alike  to  me.*  and  passing  then  to  them,  and 
seeing  them  in  great  disorder,  so  many  of  the  ar 
my  in  a  crowd  together,  acting  so  contrary  to  my 
command  and  direction,  exposing  themselves,  and 
the  whole  army  to  utter  ruin,  by  their  so  disor 
derly  crowding  thick  together.  Had  an  enemy 
come  upon  them  in  that  interim,  and  fired  a  vol 
ley  among  them,  they  could  not  have  missed  a 
single  shot.  And  wholly  neglecting  their  duty, 
in  not  attending  my  orders,  in  searching  diligently 
for  our  lurking  enemies  in  their  wigwams,  or  by 
their  fires,  where  I  had  great  hopes  and  real  ex 
pectations  to  meet  with  them. 

I  most  certainly  know  that  I  was  in  an  exceed 
ing  great  passion,  but  not  with  those  poor  misera 
ble  enemies  ;  for  I  took  no  notice  of  half  a  dozen 
of  the  enemy,  when  at  the  same  time,  I  expected 
to  be  engaged  with  some  hundreds  of  them,  of 
•whom  we  had  a  continued  account,  who  were  ex 
pected  from  Port-Royal  side.  In  the  beat  of  ac 
tion,  every  word  that  1  then  spoke,  I  cannot  give 
an  account  of,  and  I  presume  it  is  impossible.  I 
stopped  but  little  here,  but  went  direclly  up  into 
the  woods,  hoping  to  be  better  employed,  ^ith 
the  rest  of  the  army.  I  listened  to  hear  and  look 
ed  earnestly  to  see  what  might  be  the  next  action; 
but  meeting  with  many  of  the  soldiers,  they  told 
me  they  discovered  nothing.  We  fetching  a  small 
compass  round,  came  down  again.  It  being  pret 
ty  dark,  I  took  notice,  I  saw  two  men  lying  dead, 
as  1  thought,  at  the  end  of  the  house  where  the 

*  The  Colonel  was  accused  of  taking;  a  rash   step  at  this 
-time.     Seeing  his  men  off  their  guard  it  is  probable   he  did 
not  consider,  being  in  the  heat  of  passion,  as  he  afterwards 
acknowledged. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  £31 

door  was,  and  immediately  the  guns  went  off,  and 
they  fired,  every  man,  as  I  thought,  and  most  to 
wards  that  place  where  I  left  the  guard  with  Mon 
sieur  Gourdan.  I  had  much  ado  to  stop  their 
firing,  and  told  them  I  thought  they  were  mad, 
and  1  believed  they  had  not  killed  and  wounded 
less  than  forty  or  fifty  of  our  own  men.  And  I 
asked  them  what  they  shot  at  ?  They  answered, 
at  a  Frenchman  that  ran  away.  Bat  to  admira 
tion  no  man  was  killed,  but  him,  and  one  of  our 
men  wounded  in  the  leg.  And  I  turning  about, 
a  Frenchman  spoke  to  ma,  and  1  gave  him  quar 
ter.  Day-light  coming  on,  and  no  discovery  mads 
of  the  enemy,  I  went  to  the  place  where  I  hud 
left  Monsieur  Gourdan,  to  examine  him  and  his 
sons,  who  agreed  in  their  examinations.  To  d 
me  two  of  their  men  were  abroad.  It  proved  a 
damage  ;  and  further  told  me,  that  Monsieur 
Sharkee  lived  several  leagues  up,  at  the  head  of 
the  river,  at  the  falls,  and  all  the  Indians  were 
fishing,  and  tending  their  corn  there  ;  and  that 
Monsieur  Sharkee  had  sent  down  to  him  to  come 
up  to  him,  to  advise  about  the  Indian  army,  that 
was  to  go  westward  ;  but  he  had  returned  him 
answer,  his  business  was  urgent,  and  he  could  not 
come  up ;  and  that  Sharkee,  arid  the  Indians 
would  certainly  be  down  that  day,  or  the  next  at 
farthest,  to  come  to  conclude  of  that  matter.  This 
was  a  short  night's  action,  and  all  sensible  men 
do  well  know,  that  actions  done  in  the  dark  (being 
in  the  night  as  aforesaid)  so  many  difficulties 
as  w  e  then  laboured  under,  as  before  related, 
was  a  very  hard  task  for  one  man,  matters  being; 
circumstanced  as  in  this  action  ;  which  would  noV 


€32  WAR    \\1TH    THE 

.admit  of  calling  a  council,  and  at  that  time  could 
not  be  confined  thereunto.  At  which  time  I  was 
transported  above  fear,  or  any  sort  of  dread  ;  yetf 
being  sensible  of  the  danger  in  my  army's  crowd 
ing  so  thick  together,  and  of  the  great  duty  in 
cumbent  on  ine,  to  preserve  them  from  all  the 
danger  I  possibly  could,  for  farther  improvement, 
in  the  destruction  of  our  implacable  enemies  ;  am 
ready  to  conclude,  that  I  was  very  quick  and  ab 
solute  in  giving  such  commands  and  orders,  as  I 
then  apprehended  most  proper  and  advantageous. 
And  had  it  not  been  for  the  intelligence  I  had  re 
ceived  from  the  French  we  took  at  Fenobscot,  as 
before  hinted,  and  the  false  report  the  French  wo 
man  (first  taken)  gave  me,  I  had  not  been  in  such 
haste.  I  questioned  not  but  those  Frenchmen 
that  were  slain,  had  the  same  good  quarter  of 
other  prisoners.  But  I  ever  looked  upon  it  a 
good  •  providence  of  Almighty  God,  that  some 
few  of  our  cruel  and  Bloody  enemies  were  made 
sensible  of  their  bloody  cruelties,  perpetrated  on 
my  dear  and  loving  friends  and  countrymen.  And 
that  the  same  measure  (in  part)  meeted  to  them, 
as  they  had  been  guilty  of  in  a  barbarous  manner 
at  Deerfield,  arid  I  hope  justly.  I  hope  God  Al 
mighty  will  accept  hereof,  although  it  may  not  be 
eligible  to  our  French  implacable  enemies,  and 
such  others  as  are  not  our  friends.  The  foregoing 
journal,  and  this  short  annexrnent,  I  thought  it 
my  duty  to  exhibit,  for  the  satisfaction  of  my 
friends  and  countrymen,  whom  I  very  faithfully 
and  willingly  served  in  the  late  expedition  ;  and  I 
hope  will  find  acceptance  with  your  Excellency, 
ihe  honourable  Council  and  Representatives  now 
assembled,  as  being  done  from  the  zeal  I  had  in 


EASTERN    INDIANS. 

the  said  service  of  her  Majesty,  and  her  good  sub 
jects  here. 

"  I  remain  your  most  humble  and  obedient  ser 
vant,  BENJAMIN  CHURCH." 

This  night's  service  being  over,    immediately 
Col.  Church  leaves  a  sufficient   guard  with  Gour- 
dan,    and    the    other    prisoners,   moved   in   some 
whale-boats  with  the  rest,  and  as  they  were  going 
espied  a  small  thing   upon   the   water,   at   a  great 
distance,  which  proved  to  be  a  birch  canoe,  with 
two  Indians   in  her.     The  Colonel  presently  or 
dered  the  lightest  boat  he  had,  to   make   the  best 
of  her  way,  and  cut  them  off  from  the  shore.    But 
the  Indians  perceiving  their  design,  run  their  canoe 
ashore  and  tied.     Col.  Church  fearing  they  would 
run  directly  to  Sharkee,  made  all  the  expedition 
imaginable  ;  but  it  being  ebb-tide   and  the   water 
low,  was  obliged  to   land,  and  make  the  best  of 
thair  way  through  the  wqpds,  hoping  to  intercept 
the  Indians,  and  get   to   Sharkee' s   house  before 
them,  which  was  two  miles  from  where  our  forces 
landed.   The  Colonel  being  ancient  and  unwieldy, 
desired    Sergeant  Edee  to    run    with    him,  and 
coming  to  several  trees  fallen,  which  he  could  not 
creep  under,  or  readily  get  over,    would  lay  his 
breast  against  the   tree,   the   said   Edee   turning 
him  over,  generally  had  cat-luck,  falling  on  his 
feet,  by  which  means  kept  ia  the  front  ;  and  com 
ing  near  Sharkee's  house,  discovered  some  French 
and  Indians  making  a  wear*  in  the  river,  and  pre 
sently  discovered  the  two  Indians  aforementioned, 
who  called   to   them   at  work  in   the  river  ;  told 
them  there  was  an  army  of  English  and   Indians 

*  Or,  wier,  a  rack  to  catch  fish  in. 

£0* 


WAR    WITH    THE 

just  by.  They  immediately  left  their  work  and 
ran,  endeavouring  to  get  to  Sharkee's  house,  who 
hearing  the  noise,  took  his  lady  and  child,  and 
ran  into  the  woods.  Our  men  running  briskly 
fired  and  killed  one  of  the  Indians,  and  took  the 
rest  prisoners.  Then  going  to  Sharkee's  house 
found  a  woman  and  child,  to  whom  they  gave 
good  quarter.  And  finding  that  Madam  Sharkee 
had  left  her  silk  clothes  and  fine  linen  behind  her, 
our  forces  were  desirous  to  have  pursued  and 
taken  her  ;  but  Col.  Church  forbade  them,  saying 
he  would  have  her  run  and  suffer,  that  she  might 
be  made  sensible  what  hardships  our  poor  people 
had  suffered  by  them,  &c.  Then  proceeded  to 
examine  the  prisoners  newly  taken,  who  gave  him 
the  same  account  he  had  before,  of  the  Indians 
being  up  to  the  falls,  &LC.  It  being  just  night, 
prevented  our  attacking  them  that  night.  But 
next  morning  early  they  moved  up  to  the  falls, 
which  were  about  a  mile  higher.  But  doubtless 
the  enemy  had  some  intelligence  by  the  two  afore 
said  Indians,  before  our  forces  came,  so  that  they 
all  got  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  left 
some  of  their  goods  by  the  water-side,  to  decoy 
our  men,  that  so  they  might  fire  upon  them,  which 
indeed  they  effected.  But  through  the  good  provi 
dence  of  God  never  a  man  of  ours  was  killed,  and 
but  one  slightly  wounded.  After  a  short  dispute 
Col.  Church  ordered  that  every  man  might  take 
what  they  pleased  of  the  fish  which  lay  bundled 
up,  and  to  burn  the  rest,  which  was  a  great  quan 
tity.  The  enemy  seeing  what  our  forces  were 
about,  and  that  their  stock  of  fish  was  destroyed, 
and  the  season  being  over  for  getting  any  more, 
set  up  a  hideous  cry,  and  so  ran  all  away  into  the 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  235 

woods  ;  who  being   all  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  ours  could  not  follow  them.      Having  done, 
our  forces  marched  down  to  their  boats  at  Shar- 
kee's.     Then  took  their  prisoners,    beaver,   and 
other  plunder  which  they  had  gotten,  and  put  it 
into   their  boats,  and   went   down  to   Gourdan's 
house,  where  they  had  left  Lieut.  Col.  Gorharn, 
and  Major  Hilton,  with  part  of  the  forces  to  guard 
the    prisoners,    (and    kept    a    good    look-out  for 
more  of  the  enemy)  who,  upon  the  Colonel's  re 
turn,  gave  him  an  account  that  they  had  made  no 
discovery  of  the  enemy  since  he   left  them,  &,c. 
Just  then  her  Majesty's  ships  and  transports  ar 
rived.     The  Commanders  of  her  Majesty's  ships 
told  Col.  Church  that  they  had   orders  to  go  di 
rectly  for  Port-Royal  gut,  and  wait  the  coming 
of  some  store-ships,  which  were  expected  at  Port 
Royal  from  France.     Col.  Church  advising  with 
them,  proposed  that  it  was  very  expedient  and 
serviceable  to  the  Crown,  that  Capt.  Southack  in 
the  Province   galley  should  accompany  them,  in 
which  they  did  readily  acquiesce  with  him.   Upon 
which  the  Colonel  immediately  embarked  his  for 
ces  on  board  the  transports,  and  himself  on  board 
Capt.  Jarvis.     Ordering  the  commissary  of  the 
stores,  the  minister,  surgeons  and  pilots  all  to  em 
bark  on  board  the  same  vessel  with  him  ;  order 
ing  all  the  whale-boats  to  be  put  on   board  the 
transports,   and  then  to  come  to  sail.      The  ships 
standing  away  for  Port-Royal  gut,  and  Colonel 
Church  with  the  transports  for  Menis.     In  their 
way  the  Colonel  inquired  of  their  pilot Fel 
lows,  what  depth  of  water  there  was  in  the  creek, 
near  fhe  town  of  Menis  ?     He  answered  him  that 
there  was  water  enough  near  the  town  to  float  the 


236  WAR    WITH    THE 

vessel  they  were  in,  at  low  water.  So  when  com 
ing  near,  Col.  Church  observed  a  woody  island 
between  them  and  the  town,  so  that  they  run  up 
on  the  back  side  of  the  said  island,  with  all  their 
transports  undiscovered  by  the  enemy,  and  came 
to  anchor.  Then  the  Colonel  and  all  his  forces 
embarked  in  the  whale-boats  ;  it  being  late  in  the 
day,  moved  directly  for  the  town,  and  in  the  way 
asked  for  the  pilot,  who  he  expected  was  in  one 
of  the  boats  ;  but  he  had  given  him  the  slip,  and 
tarried  behind.  The  Colonel  not  knowing  the 
difficulties  that  might  attend  their  going  up  to  the 
town,  immediately  sent  Lieut.  Giles,  who  could 
speak  French,  with  a  flag  of  truce  up  to  the  town, 
with  a  summons,  which  was  wrote  before  they 
landed,  expecting  their  surrender  ;  which  is  as 
followeth  : 

Aboard  her  Majesty's  ship  Adventure,  near  the 
gut  of  Menis,  June  20,  1704. 

An  agreement  made  by  the  Field  Officers  com 
manding  her  Majesty's  forces  for  the  present 
expedition  against  the  French  enemies,  and 
Indian  rebels. 

AGREED, 

That  a  declaration  or  summons  be  sent 
on  shore  at  Menis  and  Port-Royal,  under  a  flag 
of  truce.  Particularly, 

We  do  declare  to  you,  the  many  cruelties  and 
barbarities  that  you  and  the  Indians  have  b'  u 
guilty  of  towards  us,  in  laying  waste  our  country 
here  in  the  East,  at  Casco,  and  the  places  adja 
cent.  Particularly,  the  horrid  action  at  Deer- 
field,  this  last  winter,  in  killing,  massacremg,  inur- 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  237 

tiering  and  scalping,  without  giving  any  notice  at 
all,  or  opportunity  to  ask  quarter  at  your  hands  ; 
and  after  all,  carrying  the  remainder  into  captivi 
ty  in  the  height  of  \vinter,  of  which  you  killed 
many  in  the  journey,  and  exposed  the  rest  to  the 
hardships  of  cold  and  famine,  worse  than  death 
itself;  which  cruelties  we  are  yet  every  day  ex 
posed  unto,  and  exercised  with. 

We  do  also  declare,  that  we  have  already  made 
some  beginnings  of  killing  and  scalping  some 
Canada  men,  which  we  have  not  been  wont  to  do 
or  allow,  and  are  now  come  with  a  great  number 
of  English  and  Indians,  all  volunteers,  with  reso 
lutions  to  subdue  you,  and  make  you  sensible  of 
your  cruelties  to  us,  by  treating  you  after  the 
same  manner. 

At  this  time  we  expect  our  men  of  war  and 
transport  ships  to  be  at  Fort-Royal.  (We  having 
but  lately  parted  with  them.) 

In  the  last  place,  We  do  declare  to  you,  That 
inasmuch  as  some  of  you  have  shown  kindness  to 
our  captives,  and  expressed  a  love  to,  and  desire 
of  being  under  the  English  government,  we  do 
therefore,  notwithstanding  al  this,  give  you  timely 
notice,  ard  do  demand  a  surrender  immediately, 
by  the  laying  down  your  arms,  upon  which  we 
promise  very  good  quarter  ;  if  not,  you  must  ex 
pect  the  utmost  severity. 

To  the  Chief  Commander  of  the  town  of  Men  is, 
and  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  we  expect  your 
answer  positively,  within  an  hour. 

BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  Col, 
JOHN  GORHAM,  Lt.  Col. 
WINTHROP  HILTON,  Maj. 


238 


WAR    WITH    THE 


Then  moving  to  the  creek,  expecting  to  have 
had  water  enough  for  the  boats,  as  the  pilot  had 
informed  them,  but  found  not  water  enough  for  a 
canoe  ;  so  were  obliged  to  land,  intending  to  have 
been  up  to  the  town  before  the  hour  was  out,  as 
the  summons  expressed.  (For  their  return  was, 
that  if  our  forces  would  not  hurt  their  estates, 
then  they  would  surrender  ;  if  otherwise  intend 
ed,  they  should  fight  for  them,  &,c.)  But  meeting 
with  several  creeks  near  twenty  or  thirty  feet 
deep,  which  were  very  muddy  and  dirty,  so  that 
the  army  could  not  get  over  them,  were  obliged 
to  return  to  their  boats  again,  and  wait  till  within 
night  before  the  tide  served  them.  They  then 
intended  to  go  up  pretty  near  the  town,  and  not 
to  fall-to  till  morning,  being  in  hopes  that  the 
banks  of  the  creeks  would  shelter  them  from  the 
enemy.  .But  the  tide  rising  so  high,  exposed  them 
all  to  the  enemy,  who  had  the  trees  and  woods  to 
befriend  them.  And  so  they  came,  down  in  the 
night  and  fired  smartly  at  our  forces  ;  but  Col. 
Church  being  in  a  pinnace  that  had  a  small  can 
non  placed  in  the  head,  ordered  it  to  be  charged 
several  times,  with  bullets  in  small  bags,  and  fired 
at  the  enemy,  which  made  such  a  rattling  among 
the  trees,  that  caused  the  enemy  to^draw  off.  And 
by  the  great  providence  of  Almighty  God,  not  one 
of  our  forces  was  hurt  that  night.  I  have  been 
informed,  they  had  one  Indian  killed,  and  some 
others  wounded,  which  was  some  discouragement 
to  the  enemy.  Next  morning,  by  break  of  day, 
Col  Church  ordered  all  his  forces,  (and  placed 
Maj.  Hilton  on  the  right  wing,)  to  run  all  up, 
driving  the  enemy  before  them,  who  leaving  their 
town  to  our  forces,  but  had  carried  away  the  best 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  23$ 

of  their  goods,  which  were  soon  found  by  our  sol 
diers.  The  bulk  of  the  enemy  happening  to  lie 
against  our  right  wing,  caused  the  hottest  dispute 
there,  who  lay  behind  logs  and  trees,  till  our  for 
ces,  and  Maj.  Hilton,  who  led  them,  came  upon 
them,  and  forced  them  to  run.  Notwithstanding 
the  sharp  firing  of  the  enemy  at  our  forces,  by  the 
repeated  providence  of  God,  there  was  not  a  man 
of  ours  killed  or  wounded. 

Our  soldiers  not  having  been  long  in  town,  be 
fore  they  found  considerable  quantities  of  strong 
drink,  both  brandy  and  claret;  and  being  very 
greedy  after  it,  especially  the  Indians,  were  very 
disorderly,  firing  at  every  pig,  turkey  or  fowl  they 
saw,  of  which  were  very  plenty  in  the  town,  which 
endangered  our  own  men.  The  Colonel  perceiv 
ing  the  disorder,  and  firing  of  his  own  men,  ran 
to  put  a  stop  to  it,  had  several  shot  come  very 
near  him.  And  finding  what  had  occasioned  this 
disorder,  commanded  bis  officers  to  knock  out  the 
heads  of  every  cask  of  strong  liquor  they  could  find 
in  the  town,  to  prevent  any  further  disturbance 
among  his  army;  knowing  it  was  impossible  to 
have  kept  it  from  them,  especially  the  Indians,  if 
it  were  saved.  Then  some  of  the  army,  who  were 
desirous  to  pursue  the  enemy,  having  heard  thena 
driving  away  their  cattle,  requested  the  Colonel  to 
let  them  go,  who  did;  and  gave  them  their  orders. 
Capt.  Cook  and  Capt.  Church  to  lead  the  two 
wings,  and  Lieut.  Barker,  who  led  the  Colonel's 
company,  in  the  centre.  And  the  said  Capt. 
Cook,  and  Capt.  Church  desired  Lieut.  Barker 
not  to  move  too  fast;  so  that  he  might  have  the 
benefit  of  their  assistance,  if  he  had  occasion.  But 
the  said  Lieutenant  not  being  so  careful  as  he 


240 


WAR    WITH    THE 


should  have  been,  or  at  least  was  too  eager,  was 
shot  down,  and  another  man,  which  were  all  the 
men  that  were  killed  in  the  whole  expedition. 
Towards  night  Col.  Church  ordered  some  of  his 
forces  to  pull  down  some  of  the  houses,  and  others 
to  get  logs  and  make  a  fortification  for  his  whole 
army  to  lodge  in  that  night,  so,  that  they  might  be 
together.  And  just  before  night  ordered  some  of 
his  men  to  go  and  see  if  there  were  any  men  in 
any  of  the  houses  in  town;  if  not,  to  set  them  all 
on  lire;  which  was  done,  and  the  whole  town  seem 
ed  to  be  on  fire  all  at  once.  The  next  morning 
the  Colonel  gave  orders  to  his  men  to  dig  down 
the  dams  and  let  the  tide  in,  to  destroy  all  their 
corn,  and  every  thing  that  was  good,  according  to 
his  instructions;  and  to  burn  the  fortifications 
which  they  had  built  the  day  before.  And  when 
the  tide  served  to  put  all  their  plunder  which  they 
had  got  into  the  boats.  Then  ordering  his  sol 
diers  to  march  at  a  good  distance  one  from  ano 
ther;  which  caused  the  enemy  to  think  that  there 
were  no  less  than  a  thousand  men,  as  they  said  af 
terwards,  and  that  their  burning  of  the  fortification 
and  doing  as  they  did,  caused  the  enemy  to  think 
that  they  were  gone  clear  off,  and  not  to  return 
again.  But  it  proved  to  the  contrary,  for  the  Co 
lonel  and  his  forces  only  went  aboard  their  trans 
ports,  and  there  staid  till  the  tide  served;  and  in 
the  night  embarked  on  boadr  their  whale-boats,  and 
landed  some  of  his  men.  Expecting  they  might 
meet  with  some  of  the  enemy  mending  their  dams, 
which  they  did,  and  with  their  boats  went  up  ano 
ther  branch  of  the  river,  to  another  town  or  vil 
lage,  upon  such  a  surprise,  that  they  took  as  many 
prisoners  as  they  could  desire.  And  it  happened 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  241 

that  Col.  Church  was  at  the  French  Captain's 
house  when  two  gentlemen  came  post  from  the 
Governor  of  Port-Royal  who  was  the  chief  Com 
mander  at  Menis,  with  an  express  to  send  away 
two  companies  of  men  to  defend  the  King's  fort 
there,  and  to  give  him  an  account,  that  there  were 
three  English  men  of  war  come  into  Port-Royal 
gut  or  harbour;  and  that  the  men  sent  for  must 
be  posted  away  with  all  speed.  Col.  Church,  as 
was  said  before,  being  there,  treated  the  two  gen 
tlemen  very  handsomely,  and  told  them  he  would 
send  them  back  again  post  to  their  master  upon 
his  business;  and  bid  them  give  him  his  hearty 
thanks  for  sending  him  such  good  news,  that  part 
of  his  fleet  was  in  so  good  a  harbour.  Then  read 
ing  the  summons  to  them  that  he  had  sent  to  Me 
nis,  further  added,  that  their  Master,  the  Gover 
nor  of  Port-Royal,  must  immediately  send  away  a 
post  to  the  Governor  of  Canada,  at  Quebec,  to 
prevent  his  further  sending  of  his  cruel  and  bloody 
French  and  savages,  as  he  had  done  lately  upon 
Deerfield,  where  they  had  committed  such  horrible 
and  bloody  outrages  upon  those  poor  people,  that 
never  did  them  any  harm,  as  is  intolerable  to  think 
of ;  and  that  for  the  future,  if  any  such  hostilities 
were  made  upon  our  frontier  towns,  or  any  of 
them,  he  would  come  out  with  a  thousand  savages 
and  whale-boats  convenient,  and  turn  his  back 
upon  them,  and  let  his  savages  scalp  and  roast  the 
French;  or  at  least  treat  them  as  their  savages 
had  treated  ours.  Also  gave  them  an  account  of 
part  of  that  action  at  Passamequado,  and  how 
now  that  his  soldiers  had  killed  and  scalped  some 
Canada  men  there,  and  would  be  glad  to  serve 
them  so  too,  if  he  would  permit  them,  which  ter- 
21 


242  WAR    WITH    THE 

rifled  them  very  much.*  The  two  French  gen 
tlemen  that  came  post  made  solemn  promises  that 
they  would  punctually  do  the  Colonel's  message 
to  their  Governor.  So  with  the  desire  of  the 
French  people  there,  that  the  Governor  might 
have  this  intelligence,  Col.  Church  dismissed  them, 
and  sent  them  away.  Telling  the  same  story  to 
several  of  the  prisoners,  and  what  they  must  ex 
pect  if  some  speedy  course  was  not  taken  to  pre 
vent  further  outrages  upon  the  English.  The 
number  of  prisoners  then  present,  which  were  con 
siderable,  did  unanimously  entreat  of  Col.  Church, 
that  he  would  take  them  under  the  protection  of 
the  crown  of  England;  making  great  promises  of 
their  fidelity  to  the  same,  begging  with  great  ago- 
ay  of  spirit,  to  save  their  lives,  and  to  protect  them 
from  his  savages,  whom  they  extremely  dreaded. 
As  to  the  savages,  he  told  them,  it  would  be  just 
retaliation  for  him  to  permit  his  savages  to  treat 
the  French  in  the  same  manner,  as  the  French 
with  their  savages  treated  our  friends  in  our  fron 
tier  towns.  But  as  to  his  taking  them  under  the 
protection  of  the  crown  of  England,  he  utterly  re- 
fused  it,  urging  to  them  their  former  perfidious- 
ness.  They  also  urging  that  it  would  be  imposi- 
ble  for  any  French  to  live  any  where  in  the  Bay 
of  Fundy,  if  they  were  not  taken  under  the  Eng 
lish  government;  for  with  the  benefit  of  the  whale- 
boats,  as  the  English  called  them,  they  could 
take  and  destroy  all  their  people  in  the  town  of 
Menis,  in  one  night.  But  he  replied  to  them,  it 
should  never  be.  Alleging  to  them  that  when 

*  This,  the   Commander  of  Port -Royal,  says  a  certain 
author,  "must  know  to  be  a  gasconade." 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  243 

they  were  so  before,  when  Port-Royal  was  taken 
last  by  the  English,  that  it  proved  of  very  ill  con 
sequence  to  the  crown  of  England,  and  the  sub 
jects  thereof  in  our  frontiers.  For  that  our  Eng 
lish  traders  supplying  them,  enabled  them  to  sup 
ply  the  Indians,  our  bloody  enemies.  And  there 
fore,  he  could  make  no  other  terms  of  peace  with 
them  than  that;  if  the  French  at  Menis,  Signecto 
and  Canada,  w7ould  keep  at  home  with  their  bloody 
savages,  and  not  commit  any  hostilities  upon  any 
of  our  frontiers,  we  would  return  home  and  leave 
them;  for  that  we  lived  at  a  great  distance  off, 
and  had  not  come  near  them  to  hurt  them  now, 
had  not  the  blood  of  our  poor  friends  and  brethren 
in  all  the  frontiers  of  our  province,  cried  for  ven 
geance.  Especially  that  late  unheard  of  barbarity 
committed  upon  the  town  of  Deerfield,  which 
wrought  so  generally  on  the  hearts  of  our  people, 
that  our  forces  came  out  with  that  unanimity  of 
spirit,  both  among  the  English  and  our  savages, 
that  we  had  not,  nor  needed  a  pressed  man  among 
them.  The  Colonel  also  telling  them,  that  if  ever 
hereafter  any  of  our  frontiers,  East  or  West  were 
molested  by  them,  as  formerly,  that  he  would  if 
God  spared  his  life,  and  they  might  depend  upon 
it,  return  upon  them  with  a  thousand  of  his  sava 
ges,  if  he  wanted  them,  all  volunteers,  with  our 
whale-boats,  and  would  pursue  them  to  the  last 
extremity.  The  Colonel's  warm  discourse  with 
them  wrought  such  a  consternation  in  them,  which 
they  discovered  by  their  panic  fears  and  trembling, 
their  hearts  sensibly  beating,  and  rising  up,  as  it 
were,  ready  to  choke  them;  confessed 'tircy  were 
all  his  prisoners,  and  begged  of  him,  for  Jesus' 
to  save  their  lives,  and  the  lives  of  their  poor 


WAR    WITH    THE 

families;  with  such  melting  terms,  as  wrought  re- 
'  huntings  in  the  Colonel's  breast  toward  them. 
But  however,  he  told  them,  that  his  intent  was  to 
carry  as  many  prisoners  home  as  he  could,  but 
that  he  had  taken  so  many,  they  were  more  than 
he  .had  occasion  for,  nor  desired  any  more;  and 
therefore  he  would  Jeave  them.  The  Colonel  re 
solved  the  next  day  to  complete  all  his  actions  at 
Menis,  and  so  draw  off.  Accordingly  he  sent  his 
orders  to  Col.  Gorham,  and  Maj.  Hilton,  with  all 
the  English  companies  both  officers  and  soldiers, 
except  some  few,  which  he  thought  he  might  have 
occasion  for  to  go  with  the  Indians  in  the  whale- 
boats  up  the  eastward  river,  where  a  third  part  of 
the  inhabitants  lived,  that  so  he  might  prevent  any 
reflection  made  on  them,  in  leaving  any  part  of 
the  service  undone.  And  therefore  in  the  even 
ing  ordered  ail  the  whale-boats  to  be  laid  ready 
for  the  night's  service.  And  accordingly  when 
Ihe  tide  served,  he  went  with  his  Indians  up  the 
river,  where  they  did  some  spoil  upon  the  enemy 
going  up.  In  the  morning  several  of  their  trans 
ports  came  to  meet  them,  to  their  great  rejoicing, 
of  \vhom  they  went  on  board,  and  soon  came  up 
with  the  whole  fleet,  with  whom  they  joined,  bend 
ing  their  course  directly  towards  Port-Royal, 
where  they  were  ordered.  Coming  to  Port-Royal 
gut,  where  their  ships  were,  and  calling  a  coun 
cil  according  to  his  instructions,  drew  up  their  re 
sult.  Which  is  as  followeth. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  245 

Present  all  the  Field  Officers  and  Captains  of  the 

land  forces. 
Aboard  the  Province  Galley,  4th  July,  1704,  in 

Port-Royal  harbour. 

WE  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  hav 
ing   deliberately   considered   the   cause   in   hand, 
whether  it  be  proper  to  land  all  ou^  forces,  to  of 
fend  and  destroy  as  much  as  we  can  at  Port-Royal, 
all  or   any   part  of  the   inhabitants   thereof,  and 
their  estates.     We  are  of  opinion,  that  it  is  not 
for  our   interest   and  honour,  and  the   country's 
whom  we  serve,  to  land  or   expose  ourselves,  but 
quit  it  wholly,  and  go  on  about  our  other  business 
we  have  to  do,  for  this  reason,  that  we  judge  our 
selves  inferiour  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy  ;  and 
therefore,  the  danger  and  risk  we  run,  is  greater 
than  the  advantage  we  can,  or  are  likely  to  obtain; 
seeing  the   enemy  hath  such  timely  notice,   and 
long  opportunity  to  provide  themselves  against  us, 
by  our  ships   lying  here  in  the  road  about  twelve, 
days,  before  we  could  join  them  from  Menis,  where 
we  were  during  that  time,  and  being  so  very  mean 
ly  provided  with  necessaries  convenient  for  such 
an  undertaking,  with  so  small  a  number  of  men, 
not  being  above  four  hundred  capable  and  fit  for 
service  to  land;  and  understanding  by  all  the  in 
telligence    we   can  get  from   both   English    and 
French  prisoners,  that  the  fort  is  exceeding  strong. 
JOHN  GORHAM,  Lieut.   Col. 
WINTHROP  HILTON,  Major. 
Jos.  BROWN,          CONSTANT  CHURCH, 
JAMES  COLE,          JOHN  DYER, 
JOHN  COOK,  JOSHUA  LAMB, 

ISAAC  MYRICK,      CALEB  WILLIAMSON, 

JOHNHARRADON,    EDWARD    CllURCH. 

21* 


246  WAR    WITH    THE 

Having,  pursuant  to  my  instructions,  taken  the 
advice  of  the  gentlemen  above  subscribed,  and 
considering  the  weight  of  their  reasons,  I  do  con 
cur  therewith.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 

WHEREAS  Col.  Church  hath  desired  our  opin 
ions,  as  to  the  landing  the  forces  at  Port-Royal, 
they  being  but  400  effective  men  to  land,  and  by 
all  the  information  both  of  French  and  English 
prisoners,  the  enemy  having  a  greater  number  of 
men,  and  much  better  provided  to  receive,  than 
they  are  to  attack  them.  We  do  believe  it  is  for 
the  service  of  the  crown,  and  the  preservation  of 
her  Majesty's  subjects  to  act  as  above  mentioned. 

THOMAS  SMITH, 
GEORGE  ROGERS, 
CYPRIAN  SOUTHACK. 

After  this,  they  concluded  what  should  be  next 
done;  which  was,  that  the  ships  should  stay  some 
days  longer  at  Port-Royal  gut,  and  then  go  over 
to  Mount-Desart  harbour,  and  there  stay  till  Col. 
Church  with  his  transports  should  come  to  them. 
Being  all  ready,  the  Colonel  with  his  transports 
and  forces  went  up  the  bay  to  Signecto,  where 
they  needed  not  a  pilot,  being  several  of  them  well 
acquainted  there.  And  they  had  not  met  with  so 
many  difficulties  at  Menis,  had  it  not  been  that 
their  pilot  deceived  them,  who  knew  nothing  of 
the  matter,  kept  out  of  the  way  and  landed  not 
with  them.  And  coming  to  Signecto,  the  enemy 
were  all  in  arms  ready  to  receive  them.  Col. 
Church  landing  his  men;  the  Commander  of  the 
enemy  waving  his  sword  over  his  head,  bid  a  chal 
lenge  to  them.  The  Colonel  ordering  his  two 
wings  to*  march  up  a  pace,  and  came  upon  the 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  24<7 

backs  of  the  enemy,  himself  being  in  the  centre, 
and  the  enemy  knowing  him,  having  been  there 
before,  shot  chiefly  at  him.  But  through  God's 
goodness  he  received  no  harm,  neither  had  he  one 
man  killed,  nor  but  two  slightly  wounded,  and 
then  all  ran  into  the  woods,  and  left  their  town 
with  nothing  in  it.  They  having  had  timely  no 
tice  of  our  forces,  had  carried  all  away  out  of  the 
reach  of  our  army.  Col.  Church,  while  there, 
with  part  of  his  forces  ranged  the  woods,  but  to 
no  purpose.  Then  returning  to  the  town,  did 
them  what  spoil  he  could,  according  to  his  instruc 
tions,  and  so  drew  off,  and  made  the  best  of  their 
way  for  Passamequado.  Going  in  there  in  a 
great  fog,  one  of  their  transports  ran  upon  a  rock, 
but  was  soon  got  off  again.  Then  Col.  Church 
with  some  of  his  forces  embarked  in  their  whale- 
boats,  and  went  among  the  islands,  with  an  intent 
to  go  to  Sharkee's,  where  they  had  destroyed  the 
fish;  but  observing  a  springy  place  in  a  cove,  went 
on  shore  to  get  some  water  to  drink,  it  being  a 
sandy  beach,  they  espied  tracks.  The  Colonel 
presently  ordered  his  men  to  scatter,  and  make 
search.  They  soon  found  De  Bois5*  wife,  who 
had  formerly  been  Col.  Church's  prisoner,  and 
carried  to  Boston;  but  returned,  who  seemed  very 
glad  to  see  him.  She  had  with  her,  two  sons  that 
were  nearly  men  grown.  The  Colonel  ordering 
them  apart,  examined  the  woman  first,  who  gave 
him  this  account  following;  that  she  had  lived 
thereabouts  ever  since  the  fleet  went  by,  and  that 
she  had  never  seen  but  two  Indians  since,  who 
came  in  a  canoe  from  Norrigwoek;  who  asked  her, 

*Dnbois«     Pronounc  ed  Duboy. 


248  WAR    WITH    THE 

what  made  her  to  be  there  alone?  She  told  them, 
she  had  not  seen  a  Frenchman  nor  an  Indian,  ex 
cept  those  two  since  the  English  ships  went  by. 
Then  the  Indians  told  her  there  was  not  one  In 
dian  left  except  those  two,  who  belong  to  the  gut 
of  Canso,  on  this  side  of  Canada;  for  those  Friars 
coming  down  with  the  Indians  to  M.  Gordan's, 
and  finding  the  Frenchmen  slain,  and  their  hair 
spoiled,  being  scalped,  put  them  into  a  great  con 
sternation.  And  the  Friars  told  them  it  was  im 
possible  for  them  to  live  thereabouts,  for  the  Eng 
lish  with  their  whale-boats  would  serve  them  all 
so.  Upon  which  they  all  went  to  Norrigwock. 
Also  told  her  that  when  the  English  came  along 
through  Penobscot,  they  had  swept  it  of  the  inhab 
itants,  as  if  it  had  been  swept  with  a  broom,  nei 
ther  French  nor  Indians  escaping  them.  Further 
told  her,  that  when  their  fathers,  the  Friars,  and 
the  Indians  met  together  at  Norrigwock,  they  call 
ed  a  council,  and  the  Friars  told  the  Indians,  that 
they  must  look  out  for  some  other  country,  for 
that  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  live  there;  also 
told  them  there  was  a  river  called  Mossippee, 
where  they  might  live  quietly,  and  no  English  come 
near  them;  it  being  as  far  beyond  Canada,  as  it 
was  to  it,  &LC.  and  if  they  would  go  and  live  there, 
they  would  live  and  die  with  them;  but  if  not  they 
would  leave  them,  and  never  come  near  them  again. 
Whereupon  they  all  agreed  to  go  away,  which 
they  did,  and  left  their  rough  household  stuff,  and 
corn  behind  them,  and  went  all,  except  those  two 
for  Canada.  Also  her  sons  giving  the  same  intel 
ligence,  so  we  had  no  reason  to  think  but  it  was 
true. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  249 

Col.  Church  having  done  what  he  could  there, 
embarked  on  board  the  transports,  and  went  tov 
Mount-Desart,  found  no  ships  there,  but  a  rundlet 
rode  off  by  a  line  in  the  harbour,  which  he  order 
ed  to  be  taken  up,  and  opening  of  it  found  a  let 
ter,  which  gave  him  an  account  that  the  ships 
were  gone  home  for  Boston.  Then  he  proceeded 
and  went  to  Penobscot.  Where  being  come, 
made  diligent  search  in  those  parts  for  the  enemy, 
but  could  not  find,  or  make  any  discovery  of  them, 
or  that  any  had  been  there  since  he  left  those  parts, 
which  caused  him  to  believe  what  De  Bois'  wife 
had  told  him  was  true. 

I  will  by  the  way  just  give  a  hint  of  what  we 
heard  since  of  the  effects  of  this  expedition,  and 
then   proceed.     First,    That  the  English  forces 
that   went   next  to   Norrigwock,  found   that  the 
enemy  were  gone,  and  had  left  their  rough  house 
hold  stuff  and  corn  behind  them.     Not  long  afte 
this  expedition,  there  were  several  gentlemen  sent 
down  from  Canada,  to  concert  with  our  Gover 
nor  about  the  settling  of  a  cartile  for  the  exchange 
of  prisoners.     And  that  the  Governor  of  Canada 
has  never*  since  sent  down  an  army  upon  our  fron 
tiers,  that  I  know  of,  except  sometimes  a  scout  of 
Indians  to  take  some  prisoners,  that  he  might  be 
informed  of  our  state,  and  what  we  were  acting, 
&c.  and  always  took  care  that  the  prisoners  so 
taken  should  be  civilly  treated,  and  safely  returned; 
as  I  have  been  informed,  some  of  the  prisoners 
that  were  taken  gave  such  account.     So  that  we 
have  great  cause  to  believe  that  the  message  Col. 
Church  sent  by  the  two  French  gentlemen  from 
Menis,  to  the  Governor  of  Port-Royal,  took  ef 
fect,   and  was  a  means  to  bring  peace   into  ouj- 


250  WAR    WITH    THE 

borders.  Then  Col.  Church  with  his  forces  em 
barked  on  board  the  transports,  and  went  to  Cas- 
co-Bay,  where  they  met  with  Capt.  Gallop,  in  a 
vessel  from  Boston,  who  had  brought  Col.  Church 
further  orders,  which  were  to  send  some  of  his 
forces  up  to  Norrigwock,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy ; 
but  he  being  sensible  that  the  enemy  were  gone 
from  thence,  and  that  his  soldiers  were  much  worn 
out,  and  fatigued  in  the  hard  service  they  had  al 
ready  done,  and  wanted  to  get  home,  called  a 
council,  and  agreed  all  to  go  home,  which  accor 
dingly  they  did. 

To  conclude  this  expedition,  I  will  just  give  a 
hint  of  some  treatment*  Col.  Church  had  before 
and  after  he  came  home.  For  all  his  great  ex 
penses,  fatigues  and  hardships,  in  and  about  this 
expedition,  viz.  He  received  of  his  Excellency 
fifteen  pounds,  as  an  earnest  penny,  towards  rais 
ing  volunteers.  And  after  he  came  to  receive  his 
debenture  for  his  Colonel's  pay,  there  was  two 
shillings  and  four  pence  due  to  him.  And  as  for 
his  Captain's  pay,  and  man  Jack,  he  has  never 

*  It  appears  from  authentic  documents,  that  Church  was 
censured  wrongfully,  and  for  some  time  bore  the  faults  due 
only  to  Gov.  Dudley.  For  it  was  generally  thought  by  the 
people,  that  Col.  Church  went  on  this  expedition  for  the  ex 
press  purpose  of  reducing  Port-Royal,  not  knowing  that  he 
was  expressly  ordered  to  the  contrary;  therefore,  we  are  not 
surprised  that  he  should  be  blamed  until  the  fact  should  be 
known.  It  appears  that  nothing  hindered  the  Colonel  from 
taking  it,  but  orders.  The  Governor  was  accused  of  pre 
serving  Port-Royal  to  benefit  himself  by  an  illegal  trade 
with  the  inhabitants.  However  this  may  be,  he  excused 
himself  by  saying,  he  had  no  orders  from  the  Queen  author 
izing  its  reduction,  and  that  her  Majesty  was  to  send  over 
in  the  spring,  a  force  expressly  for  that  purpose.  See 
pages  216  and  217. 


EASTERN    INDIANS.  251 

recieved  any  thing  as  yet.  Also  after  he  came 
home,  some  ill  minded  persons  did  their  endeav 
our  to  have  taken  away  his  life,  for  that  there 
were  some  of  the  French  enemy  killed,!  this  ex 
pedition.  But  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  the 
Honourable  Council,  and  House  of  Representa 
tives  saw  cause  to  clear  him,  and  gave  him  thanks 
for  his  good  service  done. 

f  See  page  229.  Some  persons  in  a  house  who  would  not 
come  out  by  the  request  of  the  soldiers.  Also,  see  NOTE. 
Page  230. 


NOTES. 


The  following  Notes  were  not  prepared  in  season  to  be  in 
serted  in  their  proper  places,  but  the  word  or  phrase 
after  which  they  should  have  been  placed  will  readily 
meet  the  eye  on  turning  to  the  page  he're  designated. 

NOTE  I. 

Page  28,  after  "  Capt.  Fuller."  Capt  Fuller 
and  Mr.  Church  were  sent  together  into  Pocasset 
neck  to  make  peace  with  the  Indians  there,  or 
war,  as  they  should  be  found  treatable,  or  other 
wise.  Capt.  Fuller  parted  from  Mr.  Church,  be 
ing  weary  of  hunting  without  meeting  with  some 
thing  to  do,  and  marched  down  to  the  water  where 
they  found  more  than  they  could  do,  but  happen 
ing  to  get  possession  of  an  old  house  were  soon 
taken  off  by  a  vessel,  and  so  escaped,  as  Mr. 
Church  did  afterward. 

NOTE  II. 

Page  35,  "  300  Indians.59  The  battle  of  the 
Pease  Field  happened  on  the  8th  July,  1675. 

NOTE  III. 

Page  53,  ct  Clark's  Garrison."  On  the  12th 
March,  1676,  Mr.  Clark's  house,  containing  two 
families,  in  all  eleven  persons,  was  destroyed,  and 
every  one  cruelly  murdered.  Mr.  Church  calls 

22 


254 


NOTES. 


it  a  garrison,  but  its  strength  did  not  make  it  so, 
being  only  a  common  house,  though  very  good 
for  those  days. 

NOTE  IV. 

Page  54,  "  Warwick."  The  17th  March  fol 
lowing  was  burned.  Also  many  other  places 
about  the  Narraganset  country.  On  the  28th  of 
the  same  month,  several  hundred  Indians  fell  upon 
Rehoboth,  and  burned  about  seventy  buildings, 
forty  of  which  were  houses.  On  the  29th,  Prov 
idence  shared  the  same  fate,  having  thirty  houses 
consumed  by  this  motley  crew.  These  were  days 
of  great  gloominess  to  New-England.  The  ene 
my's  successes  about  this  time,  particularly  in 
February  and  March,  so  elated  them,  that  they 
even  threatened  Boston  itself.  They  came  as 
near  as  Medfield,  and  notwithstanding  two  or 
three  hundred  soldiers  were  stationed  there,  they 
burned  down  half  the  town,  and  killed  eighteen  of 
the  inhabitants.  Medfield  is  twenty  miles  from 
Boston. 

NOTE  V. 

Page  111,  "  Howoh."  In  a  note  at  page  99, 
the  authority  to  alter  the  spelling  of  the  word 
Jlnnawon,  is  questioned;  the  substance  of  which 
is,  that  its  termination  ought  to  be  written  won, 
for  "  we,  who  never  heard  the  native  tongue,  can 
not  tell,  but  that  they,"  the  Natives,  "  pronounc 
ed  it  as  if  written  ivun,  allowing  this  to  have  been 
the  case,  it  is  certainly  more  proper  to  write  won.'' 
I  now  very  much  question  the  authority  of  Dr. 
Morse,  notwithstanding  his  erudition,  to  write 
Howah,  instead  of  Howoh.  It  is  very  evident  to 


NOTES.  255 

me  from  the  writings  of  those  days,  that  the  wri 
ter  of  this  history,  intended  in  the  termination  of 
that  word,  to  convey  the  sound  of  oh!  and  not  ah! 
Much  more  might  be  said  in  support  of  the  ancient 
manner  of  writing  this  word,  but  to  those  who 
wish  to  preserve  antiquity,  especially  of  our  own 
country,  no  further  proof,  it  is  thought,  will  be 
required.  It  is  desirable  that  these  things  be  aU 
tended  to  by  modern  historians,  and  let  posterity 
judge  for  themselves,  as  well  as  we,  for  ourselves, 
who,  no  doubt,  will  think  that  they  are  more  ca 
pable  of  judging  than  we. 

NOTE  VI. 

Page  143,  "  Casco."  In  the  Fort  at  Casco, 
about  100  persons  were  besieged  for  some  time, 
and  on  the  17th  of  May,  1690,  they  surrendered. 
For  many  years  the  eastern  country  was  in  the 
greatest  distress,  and  many  flourishing  places  en 
tirely  deserted,  others  entirely  destroyed. 

NOTE  VII. 

Page  188,  "  Pemaqiiid."  In  1696,  two  men 
of  war  were  despatched  to  take  possession  of  Nova 
Scotia.  As  they  lay  in  the  mouth  of  the  river 
St.  Johns,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  the  French 
at  Quebeck  were  fitting  out  a  fleet,  on  board  of 
which  v.rere  two  companies  of  soldiers  and  about 
fifty  Micfcmaek  Indians,  for  the  taking  of  the  fort 
at  Permiquid.  Though  the  French  force  consist 
ed  of  but  two  ships,  they  were  much  two  heavy 
for  the  English.  Iberville,  a  brave  and  experi 
enced  commander,  conducted  the  French  force. 
When  he  arrived  at  St.  Johns,  Villebon,  comman 
der  there,  informed  him  of  the  situation  and  cir-' 


25Q  NOTES. 

sumstances  of  the  English  ships.  He  immediatly 
was  in  quest  of  them,  and  fell  upon  them  when 
they  thought  themselves  secure.  One  ship,  call 
ed  the  Newport,  after  exchanging  a  few  broad 
sides  with  the  enemy,  had  her  topmast  shot  away, 
and  was  obliged  to  surrender.  By  the  sudden  ap 
pearance  of  a  fog  the  other  ship  escaped,  and  re 
turned  to  Boston,  bearing  the  news  of  their  de 
feat.  In  the  mean  time  the  French  fleet  proceed 
ed  upon  their  expedition  with  the  addition  of  the 
Newport.  At  Penobscot,  Baron  Castine  joined 
them,  with  200  Indians.  The  whole  force  arriv 
ed  before  the  fort  at  Pemaquid,  July  the  14th. 
Capt.  March,  having  previously  resigned  the  com 
mand  of  the  fort  a  short  time  before,  and  a  Capt. 
Chubb  was  his  successor.  He  received  a  sum 
mons  from  Iberville  to  surrender.  Chubb  returned 
for  answer,  a  mere  gasconade.  Says  he,  "if  the 
sea  were  covered  with  French  ships,  and  the  land 
with  Indians,  yet  I  would  not  give  up  the  fort." 
The  attack  was  immediately  begun  by  the  Indians, 
and  the  fort  answered  them  with  their  musketry 
and  cannon.  The  night  following  Iberville  landed 
his  cannon  and  mortars,  and  the  next  day,  before 
three  in  the  afternoon,  had  raised  his  works,  and 
planted  his  mortars,  so  as  to  throw  five  bombs  into 
the  fort.  This  so  terrified  Chubb  and  the  garri 
son  in  general,  that  a  parley  was  immediately  beat, 
and  the  fort  surrendered.  Fifteen  pieces  of  well 
mounted  cannon,  and  ninety  able  men,  which  if 
they  had  been  well  commanded,  would  have  been 
a  match  for  double  that  force,  now  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  French.  They  surrendered  on  terms, 
that  they  should  be  sent  to  Boston  and  exchanged 
for  the  like  number  of  French  and  Indian  prjs- 


NOTES.  157 

oners,  and  the  injunction  that  the  savages  should 
be  restrained  from  any  violence  on  them. 

The  surrender  of  the  fort  appears  to  have  been 
hastened  by  Castine,  who  found  means  to  convey 
a  letter  into  the  fort,  informing  them,  that  if  they 
held  out,  the  savages  would  not  be  controled,  for 
he  had  seen  such  orders  from  the  King  to  Iber- 
ville. 

Chubb  was  greatly  censured,  and  put  under  an 
arrest,  but  afterward  dismissed.  It  is  not  proba 
ble  that  the  garrison  could  have  held  out  until  suc 
cour  should  have  arrived,  and  without  doubt  they 
considered  the  longer  they  should  hold  out,  the 
more  enraged  the  savages  would  be;  therefore,  it 
is  not  unlikely  that  Capt.  Chubb9 s  conduct  was  at 
first  too  highly  censured. 

NOTE  VIII. 

Page  50,  mention  is  made  of  Sudbury.  There 
appears  no  very  particular  account  of  the  distres 
ses  of  that  place;  from  what  does  appear,  it  seems 
that  the  Indians  were  exasperated  by  the  success 
of  some  Sudbury  men,  who  were  engaged  in  the 
war.  About  the  17th  March,  1676,  a  small  num 
ber  of  them  joined  one  Lieut.  Jacobs,  of  Marlbo- 
rough,  another  suffering  town,  and  when  about 
half  a  mile  from  a  garrison  house,  came  upon  near 
ly  300  Indians  before  day,  encamped  by  their  fires, 
Notwithstanding  the  number  of  the  English  was 
so  small,  being  but  forty  in  all,  they  ventured  to 
fire  upon  them;  and  before  the  enemy  could  arouse 
and  escape,  the  English  had  several  well  directed 
fires,  killing  an  1  Wounding  nearly  fifty.  On  the 
18th  of  April,  thc-y  came,  upon  Sudbury,  and  burn 
ed  several  houses  and  barns,  and  killed  some  of 


22* 


158  NOTES. 

the  inhabitants.  About  ten  or  twelve  English  on 
their  way  from  Concord,  (a  place  about  five  miles 
from  Sudbury,)  to  assist  their  neighbors,  were  all 
killed  near  a  garrison,  by  a  party  of  the  enemy, 
who  had  knowledge  of  their  coming.  Not  long 
before  this,  one  Thomas  Eames,  that  kept  a  farm 
at  Sudbury,  but  lived  about  three  miles  out  of 
town,  had  his  house  burned,  his  wife  killed,  and 
his  children  carried  away  into  the  wilderness. 


LIFE 

OP 


Colonel  BENJAMIN  CHURCH  was  born  in 
1639,  at  Duxbury,  near  Plymouth,  of  respect 
able  parents,  who  lived  and  died  there.  His 
father's  name  was  Joseph,  who,  with  two  of 
his  brethren,  came  early  into  New-England,  as 
refugees  from  the  religious  oppression  of  the  pa 
rent  state.  Mr.  Joseph  Church,  among  other 
children  had  three  sons,  Joseph,  Caleb  and  Ben 
jamin.  Caleb  settled  at  Watertown;  the  other 
two  at  Seconet,  or  Little  Compton.  Benjamin, 
the  hero  of  ihis  history,  was  of  a  good  stature,  his 
body  well  proportioned,  and  built  for  hardiness 
and  activity.  Although  he  was  very  corpulent 
and  heavy  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  yet  when 
he  was  a  young  man  he  was  not  so,  being  then  ac 
tive,  sprightly  and  vigorous.  He  carried  dignity 
in  his  countenance,  thought  and  acted  with  ra 
tional  and  manly  judgment,  which,  joined  with  a 
naturally  generous,  obliging  and  hospitable  dispo 
sition,  procured  him  both  authority  and  esteem. 
He  married  Mrs.  Alice  Southworth,  by  whom  he 
had  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Rothbotham,  and  five  sons, 
viz.  Thomas  Church,  the  author  or  publisher  of 


260  LIFE    OF    C0£.    CHURCH. 

this  history,  and  father  of  the  Hon.  Thomas 
Church,  Esq.  now  living  at  Little  Compton;  Con 
stant  Church,  a  Captain  under  his  father  in  the 
eastern  expedition,  and  in  the  militia,  and  of  a 
military  and  enterprising  spirit;  Benjamin  Church, 
who  died  a  bachelor;  Edward  Church,  whose  only 
son,  now  living,  is  Deacon  Benjamin  Church,  of 
Boston,  who  furnishes  these  memoirs  of  the  fam 
ily;  and  Charles  Church,  who  had  a  numerous 
issue.  Colonel  Church  was  a  man  of  integrity, 
justice  and  uprightness,  of  piety  and  serious  reli 
gion.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Bris 
tol  at  its  foundation,  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lee's  day. 
He  was  constant  and  devout  in  family  worship, 
wherein  he  read  and  often  expounded  the  Scrip 
tures  to  his  household.  He  was  exemplary  in  ob 
serving  the  Sabbath,  and  in  attending  the  worship 
and  ordinances  of  God  in  the  sanctuary.  He  liv 
ed  regularly,  and  left  an  example  worthy  of  the 
imitation  of  his  posterity.  He  was  a  friend  to  the 
civil  and  religious  liberties  of  his  country,  and 
greatly  rejoiced  in  the  revolution.  He  was  Colo 
nel  of  the  militia  in  the  county  of  Bristol.  The 
several  offices  of  civil  and  military  trust,  with 
which  he  was  invested  from  time  to  time,  through 
a  long  life,  he  discharged  with  fidelity  and  useful 
ness.  The  war  of  1675  was  the  most  important 
Indian  war  that  New-England  ever  saw.  Philip 
or  Metacomet,  (a  son  of  good  old  Massasoit,  and 
his  second  successor,)  had  wrought  up  the  Indians 
of  all  the  tribes  through  New-England,  into  a 
dangerous  combination  to  extirpate  the  English. 
It  was  one  of  the  last  works  of  the  Commissioners 
of  the  United  Colonies,  (a  council  which  subsist 
ed,  the  great  security  of  New-England,  from 


LIRE    OF    COL.    CHURCH.  261 

1643  to  1678,)  to  break  up  this  confederacy.  An 
army  of  1000  English  was  on  foot  at  once,  under 
the  command  of  Gov.  Winslow.  Whoever  de 
sires  further  information  concerning  this  war,  may 
consult  Mr.  Hubbard' s*  history  of  it.  The  part 
Col.  Church  acted  in  it  is  exhibited  in  this  plain 
narrative,  given  by  his  son  two  years  before  his 
father's  death.  Col.  Church  perfectly  understood 
the  manner  of  the  Indians  in  fighting,  and  was 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  their  haunts,  swamps, 
and  places  of  refuge  on  the  territory  between 
Narraganset  and  Cape  Cod.  There  he  was  par 
ticularly  successful.  On  that  field  he  gathered 
his  laurels.  The  surprisal  and  seizure  of  ANNA* 
WON  was  an  act  of  true  boldness  and  heroism. 
Had  the  eastern  Indians  been  surrounded  with 
English  settlements,  there  is  reason  to  think  he 
would  have  been  more  successful  among  them. 
But  on  a  long  and  extended  frontier,  open  to  irn- 

*  Mr  William  Hubbard,  minister  of  Ipswich.  This  gen 
tleman,  often  referred  to  in  the  notes  attached  to  this  edi 
tion,  wrote  a  very  full  history  of  all  the  Indian  wars  ii} 
New-England,  from  the  first  discovery  of  the  country,  to 
the  year  1G77;  and  is  the  best  history  of  the  Indian  affairs 
of  that  period,  ever  published.  As  Mr.  Hubbard  wrote  at 
the  time  of  the  greatest  wars  with  the  Indians,  we  may  na 
turally  suppose,  that  his  history  is  very  correct;  yet,  there 
are  but  few  historians,  who  write  without  committing  somg 
errors,  and  we  believe  Mr.  Hubbard's  history  contains  as 
few  as  any  other,  on  those  wars. 

Gov.  Hutchinson,  in  speaking  of  the  character  of  Mr. 
Hubbard,  says,  "  he  was  a  man  of  learning,  of  a  candid  and 
benevolent  mind,  accompanied,  as  it  generally  is,  with  a 
good  degree  of  Catholicism;  which,  I  think,  was  not  account 
ed  the  most  valuable  part  of  his  character  in  the  age  ia* 
which  he  lived."  Vol.  ii,  p.  136. 

He  died  Sept.  14th,  17044  at  the  age  of  83  years. 


LIFE    OF    COL.    CHURCH. 

mense  desarts,  little  more  has  ever  been  done  by 
troops  of  undaunted  courage,  than  to  arouse  and 
drive  off  the  Indians  into  a  wide  howling  wilder 
ness,  where  it  was  as  much  in  vain  to  seek  them, 
as  for  Caesar  to  seek  the  Gauls  in  the  Hircinian 
forests. 

The  present  edition  of  this  history  is  given 
without  alteration  in  the  body  of  it;  it  being 
thought  best  that  it  should  go  down  to  posterity 
with  its  own  internal  marks  of  originality.  How 
ever,  in  the  margin  the  editor  hath  given  the  Eng 
lish  names  of  places  described  by  Indian  names 
in  the  narrative;  and  also  some  few  notes  and 
illustrations. 

After  Philip's  War,  Col.  Church  settled,  and 
at  first  at  Bristol,  then  at  Fall  River,  (Troy,) 
lastly  at  Seconet;  at  each  of  which  places  he  ac 
quired  and  left  a  large  estate.  Having  served 
his  generation  faithfully,  by  the  will  of  God,  he 
fell  asleep,  and  was  gathered  unto  his  fathers. 
He  died  and  was  buried  at  Little  Compton.  The 
morning  before  his  death,  he  went  about  two  miles 
on  horseback,  to  visit  his  only  sister,  Mrs.  Irish, 
to  sympathise  with  her  on  the  death  of  her  only 
child.  After  a  friendly  and  pious  visit,  in  a  mov 
ing  and  affecting  manner,  he  took  his  leave  of  her, 
and  said,  "  it  was  a  last  farewell;  telling  her  he 
was  persuaded  he  should  never  see  her  more;  but 
hoped  to  meet  her  in  heaven.*5  Returning  home 
ward,  he  had  not  rode  above  half  a  mile,  before 
his  horse  stumbled,  and  threw  him  over  his  head; 
and  the  Colonel  being  exceedingly  fat  and  heavy, 
fell  with  such  force  that  a  blood  vessel  was  broken, 
and  the  blood  gushed  out  of  his  mouth  like  a  tor 
rent.  His  wife  was  soon  brought  to  him.  He. 


LIFE    OF    COL.    CHURCH.  263 

tried  but  was  unable  to  speak  to  her,  and  died  in 
about  twelve  hours.  He  was  carried  to  the  grave 
with  great  funeral  pomp,  and  was  buried  under 
arms,  and  with  military  honours.  On  his  tomb 
stone  is  this  inscription : 

Here  lieth  interred  the  body 

of  the  Honourable 
Col.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH,  Esq. 

who  departed  this  life 

January  the  17th,  1717-18, 

in  the  78th  year  of  his  age. 

Newport,  April  8, 


APPENDIX. 


I.    DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA. 

WITH  the  fall  of  the  Roman  Empire,  an  age 
of  ignorance  began.  This  happened  about  447 
years  after  Christ.  And  not  until  the  fourteenth 
century,  did  science  and  the  arts  make  much  ad 
vancement;  it  was  then,  that  Navigation  rose. 
It  did  not  rise  alone,  the  immortal  Columbus*  rose 


*  Christopher  Columbus  was  born  in  Genoa,  a  province 
of  Spain,  in  the  year    1447.     He  was   early  discovered  to 
possess  a  strong  propensity  toward  a  seafaring  life,  the  oc 
cupation  of  his  ancestors,  who   were   riot   unmindful  of  his 
inclinations,  and  gave  him  a  suitable  education.     Like  other 
great  geniuses  he  viewed  the  mathematical  and  its  relative 
sciences,  only,  as  worthy  of  attention.     When  he  was  four 
teen  years  of  age,  he  commenced  going  to  sea.  In  1467,  he 
sailed  in  the  service  of  a  relative  of  his,  who  was  a  Captain 
Columbus,  and  was  engaged  in  a  war  against  the  Mahomet 
ans.     In  this  war  our  Columbus  discovered    the  qualifica 
tions  necessary  to  great  undertakings.     He  was  at  last  un 
fortunate;  for  in  H  severe  battle  the  vessel  in  which  he  serv 
ed,  taking  fire,   he  had  the  only  alternative,  to  throw  him 
self  into  the  sea;  and,  being  a  good  swimmer,  reached  the 
shore,  although  the  distance  was  six  miles.     He  immediate 
ly  went  to  Lisbon,  and  his  abilities  being  duly  appreciated 
there,  was  taken  much  notice  of  among  the  first  class  of 
people.     Here  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  nobleman,  who 
had  been  engaged  in  adventures  of  discovery,  arid,  who  fa 
voured  him  with  all  his  charts,  and  other  papers  of  great 
Value.     It  is  probable,  the  descriptions  of  new  countries, 

23 


266  APPENDIX. 

•with  it.  This  great  man  was  a  native  of  Genoa. 
In  him  we  behold  the  greatest  genius,  and  a  mind 
competent  to  the  most  daring,  and  ardent  enter 
prises,  ever  performed  by  man. 

given  him  in  the  journals  of  his  father-in-law,  first  kindled 
the  flame  of  discovery  in  his  breast;  which,  in  its  extent 
and  magnitude,  has  never  found  a  parallel. 

The  Portuguese  were  planning  the  rout  to  India  hy  pass 
ing  round   the    south   point  of  Africa,  when  Columbus  con 
ceived  the  MIGHTY  PLAN,  which  led  to  the  discovery  of 
AMERICA.     He  first  divulged  his  theory  to  a  Florentine  gen 
tleman  of  great  learning,  who  highly  approved  the  plan,  and 
encouraged  him  to  persevere  therein.     He  applied  first  to 
the  government   of  Genoa   for  patronage,   then  to  that  of 
Portugal,  who  in  order  to  rob  him  of  the  honour  which  they 
(the  latter)  thought  might  accrue,  despatched  a  vessel  in 
the  same  direction  pointed  out  by  him;  but  those  to  whom 
was  committed  the  performance   of  his   plan,  had   neither 
courage  nor  fortitude  to  venture  far  upon  it.     He  next  ad 
dressed  himself  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of  Spain,    while 
he  despatched  his  brother  Bartholomew  to  solicit  the  aid  of 
Henry  VII.   of  England.     However,  after  eight   years  of 
disappointment  and  mortifying  delays,  Isabella  was  prevail 
ed  with,  through  the  influence  of  the  noble  Quintaniila  and 
Santangel,  to  second  his  design.     He  was  on  his  way  to 
England  as  his  last  hope,  whence  the   Queen  immediately 
had  him  recalled,  and  he  immediately  set   out  on   his  first 
voyage  of  discovery  with  three  small  ships,  and  ninety  men. 
After  proceeding  a  while  in  the  then  unknown  vast  Atlantic 
ocean,  the  magnetic  needle  was  found  to  vary.     This  phe 
nomenon  appeared  strange  to  Columbus,  as  well  as  his  men, 
and  although   he   assigned  an  ingenious  reason  for  it,  yet, 
his  men  looked  upon  their  proceeding,  as  an  encroachment 
on  the  works  of  nature,  and  that  her  bounds  were  passed, 
and  this  was  a  warning  to  them  to  desist   from  proceeding 
any  farther.     When  they  had  been  about  twenty-one  days 
on  this  strarge   sea,  the   crew  began   to   mutiny,  and  Lad 
formed  the  design  of  throwing  their  Admiral  overboard,  and 
to  return  home.     He  however  dispelled  their  murmurs  by 
promising  them  that  he  would  return  in  three  days,  if  land 
did  not  appear;  at  the   end  of  which   time,  to  their  great 
.  joy,  land  was   discovered,  which  proved   to  be  one  of  the 


287 

In  the  great  plan  of  the  world,  which  he  seem 
ed  to  comprehend,  thought  it  necessary  to  the 
equipois  of  the  globe,  that  there  should  be  more 
land,  than  was  then  known.  He,  therefore,  con 
ceived  the  idea  of  sailing  to  the  East  Indies,  by 
steering  west. 


Bahama  Islands.  After  visiting  many  other  Islands  in  that 
quarter,  he  took  his  departure  homeward.  On  his  passage 
he  encountered  a  dreadful  storm,  and  when  all  was  given 
uc  for  lost,  he  retired  to  his  cahin,  and  wrote  an  account 
or  his  voyage  upon  parchment,  sealed  it  in  a  cake  of  wax, 
put  it  into  a  tight  cask,  and  threw  it  into  the  sea;  hoping, 
that  by  some  fortunate  circumstance,  it  might  be  found. 
But  presently  the  storm  ceased,  and  he  arrived  at  Lisbon, 
having  been  absent  about  seven  months.  The  25th  of  Sep 
tember,  1493,  another  armament  was  got  ready  for  him, 
consisting  of  seventeen  ships,  and  he  again  embarked.  He 
visited  tiie  places  he  discovered  before,  and  made  some  n-ew 
discoveries.  But  while  he  was  absent,  lying  and  malicious 
persons  brought  him  into  disrepute  at  home,  and  on  the  ar 
rival  of  his  brother  Bartholomew,  he  returned  to  Spain,  in 
1476;  where  his  dignified  mien  abashed  every  accuser,  and 
the  court  dismissed  him  with  honour. 

In  1438,  he  sailed  on  his  third  voyage,  and  after  touching 
along  the  continent  some  distance,  returned  to  his  old  col 
ony  at  Hispaniola,  which  he  found  in  sedition,  but  soon 
restored  things  to  order.  In  the  mean  time,  his  enemies 
succeeded  Li  procuring  his  arrest,  and  he  was  sent  home  ia 
irons,  where  he  was  instantly  released  by  the  king,  and  re 
ceived  his  usual  honours. 

He  sailed  on  a  fourth  voyage  in  1502.  On  arriving  in  the 
gulf  of  Mexico  his  fleet  ericou  itered  a  violent  storm  and  was 
cast  on  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  Here  the  natives  annoyed 
them  until  Columbus  told  them  of  an  eclipse,  which  came  to 
pass  as  he  had  predicted,  and  ever  after  they  were  treated 
with  great  respect.  At  length  he  was  taken  off,  arid  carried 
to  Spain,  in  1504.  Isabella  was  dead,  his  only  patroness,  and 
the  king  would  redress  no  wrongs  he  had  received.  This 
so  depressed  his  spirits,  that  infirmities  come  upon  him,  and 
he  died  at  Yaliadoiid.  the  12th  of  May,  1506,  in  the  59th 
year  of  his  age. 


268  APPENDIX. 

After  fully  digesting  in  his  own  mind,  this  great 
plan,  he  set  about  soliciting  assistance  to  put  it  in 
execution.  He  was  not  only  discountenanced  by 
one  court  after  another,  but  looked  -upon,  as  "  a 
visionary  and  chimerical  projector." 

At  length,  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  of  Spain, 
lent  him  their  aid.  He  sailed  from  Spain  in  Au 
gust,  and  on  the  llth  of  October  following,  1492, 
discovered  America,  which  he  considered  as  a  part 
of  the  continent  of  Asia,  known  by  the  name  of 
India.  Hence  the  name  of  Indians,  and  West- 
Indies;  because  they  were  discovered  by  sailing 
west. 

II.    DISCOVERY    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

John  and  Sebastian  Cabot,  in  the  year  1497, 
sailed  along  the  coast  of  North-America  from 
Nova  Scotia  to  Florida,  and  made  a  discovery  of 
its  whole  extent. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  and  Capt. 
John  Smith,  in  1614,  made  a  particular  discovery 
of  New-England.  Capt.  Smith  made  an  accurate 
survey  of  its  coast. 

III.     SETTLEMENT    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  made  in  North- 
America  by  the  English,  was  at  Jamestown,  in 
Virginia,  in  1607.  From  that  time  settlements 
began  to  be  made  all  along  the  coast. 

As  it  was  not  the  design  of  this  work  to  give  a 
particular  account  of  all  the  settlements,  we  pass 
on  to  that  of  New-England. 

IV.  LANDING  OF   THE    PILGRIMS   AT   PLYMOUTH. 

The  cause  of  Our  Forefather's  forsaking  their 
native  country,  for  this,  then  dreary  and  howling 


APPEISDIX.  269 

wilderness,  was  because  they  were  not  permitted 
the  free  enjoyment  of  their  religious  principles.  In 
those  times  of  persecution  a  society  fled  from  Eng 
land  into  Holland,  and  not  being  pleased  with  the 
manners  of  the  Dutch,  whose  morals  they  consid 
ered  had  a  tendency  to  corrupt  those  of  their  chil 
dren,  resolved  to  venture  across  the  vast  Atlantic 
Ocean,  and  seek  an  Asylum  in  the  West. 

Two  small  vessels  were  prepared,  and  on  the 
5th  of  August,  1620,  they  put  to  sea.  Jones  and 
Reynolds  were  the  names  of  the  two  commanders. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far,  before  Capt.  Rey 
nolds  complained,  that  his  ship  wras  so  leaky  he 
dared  not  proceed  farther,  sj  both  ships  returned. 
On  being  repaired  they  put  to  ssa  again;  and  after 
sailing  about  one  hundred  leagues,  Capt.  Reynolds 
again,  to  their  great  astonishment,  said  his  ship 
would  never  perform  the  voyage,  and  that  he  must 
return;  so  both  ships  bore  away  for  E  igland.  On 
searching  the  ship,  very  little  was  found  to  be  the 
matter;  the  true  cause  of  these  delays,  as  yet  not 
being  known.  But  it  was  afterward  found,  that 
the  Dutch  had  bribed  the  said  Reynolds  to  waste 
away  the  season,  and  to  land  them  thus  far  north, 
so  late  that  they  could  not  go  to  Hudson's  river, 
as  they  first  intended.  But  to  proceed,  it  was 
finally  agreed  to  dismiss  the  bad  ship;  which  was 
done,  and  the  other  to  go  on  the  intended  voyage, 
which  after  encountering  violent  storms,  and  long 
head  winds,  arrived  on  the  coast  in  November. 
And  on  coming  near  the  land,  found  it  to  be  Cape 
Cod.  They  held  a  council,  and  resolved  to  go 
south  for  Hudson's  river.  They  had  not  sailed 
long  before  they  found  themselves  nearly  encom 
passed  with  dangerous  shoals;  so  they  bore  up 
23* 


210  APPENDIX. 

again  for  the  Cape,  and  entered  the  harbour  on 
the  llth.  They  immediately  sent  out  a  party  to 
explore,  who  fixed  upon  a  place,  whither  they  all 
went,  and  on  the  25th,  was  begun  the  first  house 
ever  built  in  New-England.  The  place  was  call 
ed  Plymouth,  from  the  last  place  they  left  in 
England. 

Proceedings  of  the  Pilgrims  for  the  first  three 
months  after  their  arrival,  as  related  by  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Morton,  in  his  New-England's  Me 
morial;  being  copied  verbatim  from  an  old  edi 
tion  of  that  work. 

Of  the  first  planters,  their  combination,  by  en 
tering  into  a  body  politick  together;  with  their 
proceedings  in  discovery  of  a  place  for  their 
settlement  and  habitation. 

Being  thus  fraudulently  dealt  with  (as  you  have 
heard)  and  brought  so  far  to  the  northward,  the 
season  being  sharp,  and  no  hopes  of  their  obtain 
ing  their  intended  port;  and  thereby  their  patent 
being  made  void  and  useless,  as  to  another  place: 
Being  at  Cape  Cod  upon  the  eleventh  day  of  No 
vember,  1620,  it  was  thought  meet  for  their  more 
orderly  carrying  on  of  their  affairs,  and  accord 
ingly  by  mutual  consent  they  entered  into  a  sol 
emn  combination,  as  a  body  politick,  to  submit  to 
such  government  and  governors,  laws  and  ordinan 
ces,  as  should  by  a  general  consent,  from  time  to 
time,  be  made  choice  of,  and  assented  unto.  The 
contents  whereof  folio weth.  This  was  the  first 
foundation  of  the  government  of  New-Plymouth. 

In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  We  whose  names 
are  underwritten,  the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread 


APPENDIX.  271 

t 

sovereign  Lord,  King  James,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland, 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c.  Having  under 
taken  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  advancement  of 
the  Christian  faith,  and  the  honour  of  our  King 
and  country,  a  voyage  to  plant  the  first  colony  in 
the  northern  parts  of  Virginia;  do  by  these  pres 
ents  solemnly  and  mutually,  in  the  presence  of 
God  and  one  another,  covenant  and  combine  our 
selves  together  into  a  civil  body  politick,  for  our 
better  ordering  and  preservation,  and  furtherance 
of  the  ends  aforesaid:  And  by  virtue  hereof,  do 
enact,  constitute  and  frame  such  just  and  equal 
laws,  ordinances,  acts  constitutions  and  officers, 
from  time  to  time,  as  shall  be  thought  most  meet 
and  convenient  for  the  general  good  of  the  colo 
ny;  unto  which  we  promise  all  due  submission 
and  obedience.  In  witness  whereof,  we  have 
hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  at  Cape  Cod,  the 
eleventh  of  November,  in  the  reign  of  our  sove 
reign  Lord  King  James,  of  England,  France  and 
Ireland,  the  eighteenth,  and  of  Scotland  the  fifty- 
fourth,  Anno  Dom.  1620. 

John  Carver,  Samuel  Fuller,         Edward  Tilly, 

William  Bradford,  Christopher  Martin  John  Tilly, 

Edward  Winslow,  William  Mullins,      Francis  Cooke, 

William  Brewster,  William  White,        Thomas  Rogers, 

Isaac  Allerton,  Richard  Warren,      Thomas  Tinker, 

Miles  Standish,  John  Howland,        John  Ridgdale, 

John  Alden,  Stephen  Hopkins,    Edward  Fuller, 

John  Turner,  Digery  Priest,          Richard  Clark, 

Francis  Eaton,  Thomas  Williams,   Rich.  Gardiner, 

James  Chilton,  Gilbert  Winslow,     John  Allerton, 

John  Craxton,  Edmund  Morgeson,  Thomas  English, 

John  Billington,  Peter  Brown,  Edward  Doten, 

Joses  Fletcher,  Richard  Bitteridge,  Edward  Liester. 

John  Goodman,]  George  Soule, 


-212  APPENDIX. 

After  this,  they  chose  Mr.  John  Carver,  a  man 
godly  and  well  approved  among  them,  to  be  their 
governor  for  that  year. 

Necessity  now  calling  them  to  look  out  a  place 
for  habitation,  as  well  as  the  master  and  mariners, 
importunity  urging  them  thereunto;  while  their 
carpenter  was  trimming  up  of  their  boat,  sixteen 
of  their  men  tendered  themselves  to  go  by  land 
and  discover  those  nearest  places,  which  was  ac 
cepted;  and  they  being  well  armed,  were  sent  forth 
on  the  sixteenth  of  November,  1620,  and  having 
marched  about  a  mile  by  the  sea-side,  they  espied 
five  Indians,  who  ran  away  from  them,  and  they 
followed  them  all  that  day  sundry  miles,  but  could 
not  come  to  speak  with  them;  so  night  coming  on, 
they  betook  themselves  to  their  rendezvous,  and 
sent  out  their  sentinels,  and  rested  in  quiet  that 
night;  and  the  next  morning  they  followed  the  In 
dian  tracks,  but  could  not  find  them  or  their  dwell 
ings,  but  at  length  lighted  on  a  good  quantity  of 
clear  ground  near  to  a  pond  of  fresh  water,  where 
formerly  the  Indians  had  planted  Indian  corn,  at 
which  place  they  saw  sundry  of  their  graves;  and 
proceeding  further,  they  found  new  stubble  where 
Indian  corn  had  been  planted  the  same  year,  also 
they  found  where  lately  a  house  had  been,  where 
some  planks  and  a  little  kettle  was  remaining,  and 
heaps  of  sand  newly  paddled  with  their  hands, 
which  they  digged  up,  and  found  in  them  divers 
fair  Indian  baskets  filled  with  corn,  some  whereof 
was  in  ears,  fair  and  good,  of  divers  colours, 
which  seemed  to  them  a  very  goodly  sight,  having 
seen  none  before.  Of  which  rarities  they  took 
some  to  carry  to  their  friends  on  shipboard,  like 
°s  the  Israelites5  spies  brought  from  lishcol  some 


APPENDIX. 


273 


of  the  good  fruits  of  the  land;  but  finding  little 
that  might  make  for  their  encouragement  as  to 
situation,  they  returned,  being  gladly  received  by 
the  rest  of  their  company. 

After  this,  their  shallop  being  ready,  they  set 
out  the  second  time  for  a  more  full  discovery  of 
this  place,  especially  a  place  that  seemed  to  be  an 
opening  as  they  went  into  the  said  harbour  some 
two  or  three  leagues  off,  which  the  master  judged 
to  be  a  river;  about  thirty  of  them  went  out  on  this 
second  discovery,  the  master  of  the  ship  going 
with  them;  but  upon  the  more  exact  discovery 
thereof,  they  found  it  to  be  no  harbour  for  ships, 
but  only  for  boats.  There  they  also  found  two  of 
their  houses  covered  with  mats,  and  sundry  of  their 
implements  in  them;  but  the  people  ran  away,  and 
could  not  be  seen.  Also  there  they  found  more 
of  their  corn  and  beans  of  various  colours;  the 
corn  and  beans  they  brought  away,  purposing  to 
give  them  full  satisfaction  when  they  should  meet 
with  any  of  them.  About  six  months  a/ter  they 
gave  them  full  satisfaction  to  their  content.  And 
here  is  to  be  noted,  a  special  and  a  great  mercy 
to  this  people,  that  here  they  got  them  seed  to 
plant  them  corn  the  next  year,  or  otherwise  they 
might  have  starved,  for  they  had  none,  nor  any 
likelihood  to  get  any,  until  the  season  had  been 
past,  as  the  sequel  did  manifest,  neither  is  it  like 
ly  that  they  had  had  this,  if  the  first  discovery  had 
not  been  made,  for  the  ground  was  now  all  cover 
ed  with  snow,  and  hard  frozen;  but  the  Lord  is 
never  wanting  unto  those  that  are  his,  in  their 
greatest  needs.  Let  his  holy  name  have  all  the 
praise. 


274  APPENDIX. 

Having  thus  discovered  this  place,  it  was  con 
troverted  among  them  what  to  do,  touching  their 
abode  and  settling  there.  Some  thought  it  best 
for  many  reasons  to  abide  there. 

1st.  Because  of  the  convenience  of  the  harbour 
for  hosts,  though  not  for  ships. 

2d.  There  was  good  corn  ground  ready  to  their 
hands  as  was  seen  by  experience  in  the  goodly 
corn  it  yielded,  which  again  would  agree  with  the 
ground,  and  be  natural  seed  for  the  same. 

3d.  Cape  Cod  was  like  to  be  a  place  for  good 
fishing,  for  they  daily  saw  great  whales  of  the  best 
kind  for  oil. 

4th.  The  place  was  likely  to  be  heathful,  se 
cure  and  defensible. 

5thly,  and  lastly.  The  especial  reason  was,  that 
now  the  heart  of  the  winter  and  unseasonable 
weather  was  come  upon  them,  so  as  they  could 
not  go  upon  coasting  and  discovery,  without  dan 
ger  of  losing  both  men  and  boat,  upon  which  would 
follow  the  overthrow  of  all,  especially  considering 
what  variable  winds  and  sudden  storms  do  there 
arise;  also  cold  and  wet  lodging  had  so  tainted 
their  people,  as  scarce  any  of  them  were  free  from 
vehement  coughs,  as  if  they  should  continue  long, 
it  would  endanger  the  lives  of  many,  and  breed 
diseases  and  infection  among  them.  Again,  that 
as  yet  they  had  some  provisions,  but  they  would 
quickly  be  spent,  and  then  they  should  have  noth 
ing  to  comfort  them  in  their  labour  and  toil  that 
they  were  like  to  undergo.  At  the  first  it  was 
also  conceived,  whilst  they  had  competent  vic 
tuals,  that  the  ship  would  stay,  but  when  that  grew 
low,  they  would  be  gone  and  let  them  shift  for 
themselves. 


APPENDIX.  275 

Others  again  urged  to  go  to  Agawam,  alias  An- 
gawam,  a  place  about  twenty  leagues  oiflf  to  the 
northward,  which  they  had  heard  to  be  an  excel 
lent  harbour  for  ships,  better  ground,  and  better 
fishing. 

Secondly,  for  any  thing  they  knew  there  might 
be  hard  by  as  a  better  seat,  and  it  would  be  a 
great  hindrance  to  seat  where  they  should  remove 
again. 

But  to  omit  many  reasons  and  replies  concern 
ing  this  matter,  it  was  in  the  end  concluded  to 
make  some  discovery  within  the  bay,  but  in  no 
case  so  far  as  Angawam.*  Besides,  Robert  Cop- 
pin,  their  pilot,  made  relation  of  a  great  naviga 
ble  river  and  good  harbour  in  the  other  headland 
of  the  bay,  -almost  right  over  against  Cape  Cod, 
being  in  a  right  line  not  much  above  eight  leagues 
distant,  in  which  he  had  once  been,  and  beyond 
that  place  they  that  were  to  go  on  discovery,  were 
enjoined  not  to  go.  About  this  time  Mrs.  Su 
sanna  White  was  delivered  of  a  son,  who  was 
named  Peregrine;  he  was  the  first  of  the  English 
that  wTas  born  in  New-England,  and  still  survi- 
veth,f  and  is  the  Lieutenant  of  the  military  com 
pany  of  JMarshfteld. 

The  month  of  November  being  spent  on  these 
affairs,  and  having  much  foul  weather;  on  the  sixth 
of  December  they  concluded  to  send  out  their 
shallop  again  on  a  third  discovery.  The  names 
of  those  that  went  on  this  discovery,  were  Mr. 
John  Carver,  Mr.  William  Bradford,  Mr.  Ed 
ward  Winslow,  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  Mr.  John 

*  Supposed  to  be  where  Salem  now  is.     Ed. 

t'ierfS. 


276  APPENDIX.   , 

Rowland,  Mr.  Richard  Warren,  Mr.  Stephen 
Hopkins,  Mr.  Edward  Tilly,  Mr.  John  Tilly, 
Mr.  Clark,  Mr.  Coppin,  John  Allerton,  Thomas 
English,  Edward  Doten,  with  the  master  gunner 
of  the  ship,  and  three  of  the  common  seamen; 
these  set  sail  on  Wednesday  the  sixth  of  Decem 
ber,  1620,  intending  to  circulate  the  deep  bay  of 
Cape  Cod,  the  weather  being  very  cold,  so  as  the 
spray  of  the  sea  lighting  on  their  coats,  they  were 
as  if  they  had  been  glazed,  notwithstanding,  that 
night  they  got  down  into  the  bottom  of  the  bay, 
and  as  they  drew  near  .the  shore  they  saw  some 
ten  or  twelve  Indians,  and  landed  about  a  league 
off  them,  but  with  some  difficulty,  by  reason  of 
the  shoals  in  that  place,  where  they  tarried  that 
ight. 

In  the  morning  they  divided  their  company  to 
'  oast  along,  some  on  shore  and  some  in  the  boat, 
vhere  they  saw  the  Indians  had  been  the  day  be- 
bre  cutting  up  a  fish  like  a  Grampus;  and  so  they 
anged  up  and  down  all  that  day,   but  found  no 
oeople,  nor  any  place   they  liked,  as  fit  for  their 
settlement;  and  that  night,  they  on  shore  met  with 
their  boat  at  a  certain  creek,   where   they  made 
them   a  baricado  of  boughs   and  logs,   for  their 
lodging  that  night,  and  being  weary  betook  them 
selves  to  rest.     This  is  thought  to  be  a  place  call 
ed  Namskeket.     The   next    morning,  about  five 
o'clock,   (seeking  guidance   and  protection  from 
God  by  prayer)  and  refreshing  themselves,  in  way 
of  preparation,  to  persist  on  their  intended  expe 
dition,   some  of  them  carried  their  arms  down  to 
the  boat,  having  laid  them  up  in  their  coats  from 
the  moisture  of  the  weather;  but  others  said  they 
vould  not  carry  theirs  until  they  went  themselves: 


APPENDIX. 


571 


but  presently  all  on  a  sudden,  about  the  dawning 
of  the  day,  they  heard  a  great  and  strange  cry, 
and  one  of  their  company  being  on  board,  came 
hastily  in.  and  cried,  Indians  !  Indians  !  and,  with 
al,  their  arrows  came  flying  among  them  ;  on 
which  all  their  men  ran  with  speed  to  recover  their 
arms;  as  by  God's  good  providence  they  did.  In 
the  mean  time  some  of  those  that  were  ready  dis 
charged  two  muskets  at  them,  and  two  more  stood 
ready  at  the  entrance  of  their  rendezvous,  but 
were  commanded  not  to  shoot  until  they  could 
take  full  aim  at  them;  and  the  other  two  charged 
again  with  all  speed,  for  there  were  only  four  that 
had  arms  there,  and  defended  the  barricaclo  which 
was  first  assaulted.  The  cry  of  the  Indians  was 
dreadful,  especially  when  they  saw  their  men  run 
out  of  their  rendezvous  towards  the  shallop  to  re 
cover  their  arms;  the  Indians  wheeling  about  up 
on  them  ;  but  some  running  but  with  coats  of 
mail,  and  cuttle  axes-in  their  hands,  they  soon  re 
covered  their  arms,  and  discharged  among  them, 
and  soon  stayed  their  violence.  Notwithstanding, 
there  was  a  lusty  man,  and  no  less  valiant,  stood 
behind  a  tree  within  half  a  musket  shot,  and  let 
his  arrows  fly  among  them;  he  was  seen  to  shoot 
three  arrows,  which  were  all  avoided,  arid  stood 
three  shot  of  a  musket,  until  one  taking  full  aim 
at  him,  made  the  bark  or  splinters  of  the  tree  My 
about  his  ears;  after  which  he  gave  an  extraordi 
nary  shriek,  and  away  they  went  all  of  them;  and 
so  leaving  some  to  keep  the  shallop,  they  follow 
ed  them  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  that  they  might 
conceive  t-iat  they  were  not  afraid  of  them,  or  any 
way  discouraged.  This  place,  on  this  occasion, 
was  called  the  First  Encounter. 


218  APPENDIX. 

Thus  it  pleased  God  to  vanquish  their  enemies, 
and  to  give  them  deliverance,  and  by  his  special 
providence  so  to  dispose,  that  not  any  of  them  was 
either  hurt  or  hit,  though  their  arrows  came  close 
by  them;  and  sundry  of  their  coats,  which  hung 
up  in  the  barricade,  were  shot  through  and  through; 
for  which  salvation  and  deliverance  they  rendered 
solemn  thanksgiving  unto  the  Lord. 

From  hence  they  departed,  and  coasted  all 
along,  but  discerned  no  place  likely  for  harbour, 
and  therefore  hasted  to  the  place  the  pilot,  as  afore 
said,  told  them  of,  who  assured  them  that  there 
was  a  good  harbour,  and  they  might  fetch  it  be 
fore  night;  of  which  they  were  glad,  for  it  began 
to  be  foul  weather. 

After  some  hours  sailing,  it  began  to  snow  and 
rain,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the 
wind  increased,  and  the  sea  became  very  rough, 
and  they  broke  their  rudder,  and  it  was  as  much 
as  two  men  could  do  to  steer  the  boat  with  a 
couple  of  oars;  but  the  pilot  bid  them  be  of  good 
eli^er,  for  he  saw  the  harbour;  but  the  storm  in 
creasing,  and  night  drawer"  on,  they  bore  what 
sail  they  could  to  get  n-  ihey  could  see;  but 

herewith  they  broke  their  mast  in  three  pieces, 
and  their  sail  fell  overboard  in  a  vrry  grown  sea, 
so  as  they  had  like  to  have  been  cast  away;  yet 
by  God's  mercy  they  recovered  themselves,  and 
having  the  flood  with  them,  struck  into  the  har 
bour.  But  when  it  came  to,  the  pilot  was  de 
ceived,  and  said,  Lord  be  merciful  to  us,  my  eyes 
never  saw  this  place  before;  and  he  and  the  mas 
ter's  mate  would  have  run  the  boat  ashore  in  a 
cove  full  of  breakers  before  the  wind,  but  a  lusty 
seamen,  who  steered,  bid  them  that  rowed,  if  they 


APPENDIX.  219 

were  men,  about  with  her,  else  they  were  all  cast 
away,  the  which  they  did  with  all  speed;  so  he 
hid  them  he  of  good  cheer,  and  row  hard,  for 
there  was  a  fair  sound  before  them,  and  he  doubt 
ed  not  but  they  should  find  one  place  or  other 
they  might  ride  in  safety.  And  although  it  was 
very  dark,  and  rained  sore,  yet  in  the  end  they 
got  under  the  lee  of  a  small  island,  and  remained 
there  alj  night  in  safety.  But  they  knew  not  this 
to  be  an  island  until  the  next  morning,  but  were 
much  divided  in  their  minds;  some  would  keep  the 
boat,  doubting  they  might  be  among  the  Indians, 
others  were  so  wet  and  cold  they  could  not  en 
dure,  but  got  on  shore,  and  with  much  difficulty 
got  fire,  and  so  the  whole  were  refreshed,  and 
rested  in  safety  that  night.  The  next  day,  ren 
dering  thanks  to  God  for  his  great  deliverance  of 
them,  and  his  continued  merciful  good  providence 
towards  them;  and  finding  this  to  be  an  island,  it 
being  the  last  day  of  the  week,  they  resolved  to 
keep  the  Sabbath.  This  was  between  the  place- 
called  the  Gurnet's  Nose  and  Sagaquab,  by  the 
mouth  of  Plymouth  harbour.  This  was  after 
wards  called  Clark's  island,  because  Mr.  Clark, 
the  master's  mate,  first  stepped  ashore  thereon. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  week  following  they 
sounded  the  harbour,  and  found  it  fit  for  shipping, 
and  marched  into  the  land,  arid  found  divers  corn 
fields,  and  little  running  brooks,  a  place,  as  they 
supposed,  fit  for  situation,  at  least  it  was  the  best 
that  they  could  find,  and  the  season  and  the  pres 
ent  necessity  made  them  glad  to  accept  of  it.  So 
they  returned  to  their  ship  with  this  news  to  the 
rest  of  the  people,  which  did  much  comfort,  the  if 
hearts. 


280 


APPENDIX. 


On  the  fifteenth  of  December  they  weighed  an 
chor,  to  go  to  the  place  they  had  discovered,  and 
arrived  the  sixteenth  day  in  the  harbour  they  had 
formerly  discovered,  and  afterwards  took  better 
view  of  the  place,  and  resolved  where  to  pitch 
their  dwellings;  and  on  the  five  and  twentieth  day 
x»f  December  began  to  erect  the  first  house  for 
common  use,  to  receive  them  and  their  goods. 
And  after  they  had  provided  a  place  for  their 
^oods  and  common  store,  (which  was  long  in  un 
lading  for  want  of  boats,  and  by  reason  of  foul 
ness  of  the  winter  weather,  and  sickness  of  di 
vers,)  they  began  to  build  some  small  cottages  for 
habitation,  as  time  would  admit;  and  also  consult 
ed  of  laws  and  orders  both  for  their  civil  and  mil 
itary  government,  as  the  necessity  of  their  present 
condition  did  require.  But  that  which  was  sad 
and  lamentable,  in  two  or  three  months  time  half 
of  their  company  died,  especially  in  January  and 
February,  being  the  depth  of  winter,  wanting 
houses  and  other  comforts,  being  infected  with 
the  scurvy  and  other  diseases,  which  this  long 
voyage  and  their  incommodate  condition  had 
brought  upon  them,  so  as  there  died,  sometimes 
i wo,  somfitirnes  three  on  a  day,  in  the  aforesaid 
time,  that  of  one  hundred  and  odd  persons,  scarce 
ly  fifty  remained.  Among  others  in  the  time  fore 
named,  died  Mr.  William  Mullins,  a  man  pious 
and  well-deserving,  endowed  also  with  a  consid 
erable  outward  estate;  and  had  it  been  the  will  of 
God  that  he  had  survived,  might  have  proved  an 
useful  instrument  in  his  place,  with  several  others 
who  deceased  in  this  great  and  common  affliction, 
whom  I  might  take  notice  of  to  the  like  eifect. 
Of  those  that  did  survive  in  this  time  of  distress 


APPENDIX.  281 

and  calamity  that  was  upon  them,  there  was  some 
times  but  six  or  seven  sound  persons,  who,  to  their 
great  commendation  be  it  spoken,  spared  no  pains 
night  nor  day  to  be  helpful  to  the  rest,  not  shun 
ning  to  do  very  mean  services  to  help  the  weak 
and  impotent.  In  which  sickness  the  seamen 
shared  also  deeply,  and  many  died,  to  about  the 
one  half  of  them,  before  they  went  away.  Thus 
being  but  few,  and  very  weak,  this  was  an  oppor 
tunity  for  the  savages  to  have  made  a  prey  of 
them,  who  were  wont  to  be  most  cruel  and  treach 
erous  people  in  all  these  parts,  even  like  lions;  but 
to  them  they  were  as  lambs,  God  striking  a  dread 
in  their  hearts,  so  that  they  received  no  harm  from 
them.  The  Lord  also  so  disposed,  as  aforesaid, 
much  to  waste  them  by  a  great  mortality,  togeth 
er  with  which  were  their  own  civil  dissensions,  and 
bloody  wars,  so  as  the  twentieth  person  was  scarce 
left  alive  when  these  people  arrived,  there  remain 
ing  sad  spectacles  of  that  mortality  in  the  place 
where  they  seated,  by  many  bones  and  skulls  of 
the  dead  lying  above  ground;  whereby  it  appear 
ed  that  the  living  of  them  were  not  able  to  bury 
them.  Some  of  the  ancient  Indians  that  are  sur 
viving  at  the  writing  hereof,  do  affirm,  that  about 
some  two  or  three  years  before  the  first  English 
arrived  here,  they  saw  a  blazing  star,  or  comet, 
which  was  a  fore-runner  of  this  sad  mortality,  for 
soon  after  it  carne  upon  them  in  extremity.  Thus 
God  made  way  for  his  people,  by  removing  the 
heathen,  and  planting  them  in  the  land;  yet  we 
hope  in  mercy  to  some  of  the  posterity  of  these 
blind  savages,  by  being  a  means,  at  least  stepping- 
stones,  for  others  to  come  and  preach  the  gospel 
among  them;  of  which  afterwards  in  its  proper 


2S2  APPENDIX. 

place.  This  seemeth  to  be  the  same  star  that 
was  seen  about  that  time  in  Europe.  But  to 
return ; 

The  Indians,  after  their  arrival,  would  show 
themselves  afar  off,  but  when  they  endeavoured 
to  come  near  them  they  would  run  away.  But 
about  the  sixteenth  of  March,  1621,  a  certain  In 
dian,  called  Samoset,  came  boldly  among  them, 
and  spoke  to  them  in  broken  English,  which  yet 
they  could  well  understand;  at  which  they  mar 
velled;  but  at  length  they  understood  that  he  be 
longed  to  the  eastern  parts  of  the  country,  and 
had  acquaintance  with  sundry  of  the  English  fish 
ermen,  and  could  name  sundry  of  them,  from 
whom  he  learned  his  language.  He  became 
very  profitable  to  them,  in  acquainting  them  with 
many  things  concerning  the  state  of  the  country 
in  the  eastern  parts,  as  also  of  the  people  here; 
of  their  names,  number  and  strength,  of  their  sit 
uation  and  distance  from  this  place,  and  who  was 
chief  among  them.  He  told  them  also  of  another 
Indian  called  Squanto,  alias  Sisquantam,  one  of 
ibis  place,  who  had  been  in  England,  and  could 
speak  better  English  than  himself;  and  after 
courteous  entertainment  of  him  he  was  dismissed. 
Afterwards  he  came  again  with  some  other  na 
tives,  and  told  them  of  the  coming  of  the  great 
Sachem,  named  Massasoiet,  who,  about  four  or 
live  days  after,  came  with  the  chief  of  his  friends 
and  other  attendants,  with  the  aforesaid  Squanto, 
with  whom,  after  friendly  entertainment  and  some 
gifts  given  him,  they  made  a  league  of  peace, 
which  continued  with  him  and  his  successors  to 
the  time  of  the  writing  hereof. 


APPENDIX.  £03 

V.    WARS    WITH    THE    INDIANS. 

Story  of  Capt.   Smith  and  Pocahontas. 

The  southern  Indians  were  exasperated  against 
the  English  before  any  regular  settlement  was 
made.  An  Indian  town  was  burnt  by  Sir  Rich 
ard  Greenville,  only  because  a  native  had  stolen 
a  silver  cup.  At  another  time  a  Mr.  Lane  and 
his  company  killed  a  Chief,  and  several  others. 
These,  with  other  acts  of  inhumanity,  were  not 
forgotten;  but  as  soon  as  a  settlement  was  made, 
and  an  opportunity  offered,  they  took  revenge. 

The  colony  of  Virginia  were  involved  in  per 
petual  broils  with  the  Indians,  and  to  add  to  their 
calamities,  their  governors  sent  over  by  the  king, 
were  at  first,  cruel  and  oppressive.  At  length 
Capt.  John  Smith  was  sent  over,  and  affairs  took 
a  different  turn.  But  a  predatory  war  was  every 
day  carried  on  by  the  Indians,  and  nothing  could 
put  a  stop  to  these  outrages,  but  their  subjugation. 
Capt.  Smith,  while  engaged  in  this  business,  un 
fortunately  for  the  Colony,  was  taken  by  a  party 
of  Indians,  subjects  of  Powhatan,  in  making  his 
escape  across  a  swamp,  having  got  stuck  fast  in 
the  mud.  He  was  conveyed  in  triumph  to  Powr 
hatan,  who  resolved  on  his  immediate  death.  The 
manner  being  agreed  upon,  and  performed  with  all 
its  terrors.  Two  huge  stones  were  placed,  and 
Capt.  Smith  was  brought,  and  his  head  laid  upon 
one,  while  the  other  was  raised  to  dash  out  his 
brains.  At  this  moment,  Pocahontas,  the  king's 
darling  daughter,  stayed  the  arm  of  the  execution 
er,  by  throwing  herself  between,  and  covering  his 
head  with  her  own.  At  the  same  time  beseech 
ing  her  father  to  spare  his  life,  with  all  the  ten- 


284  APPENDIX. 

derness,  which  female  innocence  inspires.  Pow- 
hatan  was  moved,  for  the  sake  of  his  daughter,  to 
prolong  his  life. 

His  release  was  affected  in  a  singular  manner. 
He  told  Powhatan,  that  if  he  would  send  one  of 
his  men  to  the  English,  on  a  certain  day,  he  should 
find  under  a  certain  tree,  such  implements  of  war, 
&,c.  as  should  be  agreed  upon  for  his  ransom. 
Powhatan  consented,  but  without  much  confidence. 
Captain  Smith  took  a  leaf  from  his  pocket-book, 
wrote  on  it  what  his  situation  was,  and  what  ar 
rangements  he  had  made  for  his  release.  The 
messenger  taking  it  directly  to  the  English,  at  the 
day  appointed,  everything  was  found  agreeably  to 
stipulation.  This  mode  of  doing  buisness  they 
thought  miraculous,  and  that,  at  least,  Capt. 
Smith  was  a  worker  of  magic.  He  wras  therefore 
sent  home,  and  ever  after  held  in  great  respect  by 
them.  On  his  return  to  the  colonists  he  found 
them  in  a  wretched  condition.  Pocahontas  often 
visited  him,  and  always  presenting  some  kind  of 
provisions,  of  which,  at  this  time,  they  were  very 
much  in  want.  Not  long  after  this,  a  plan  was 
laid  by  the  Indians  for  destroying  the  whole  set 
tlement. 

Pocahontas  set  out  the  night  preceding,  in  the 
most  violent  storm,  and  arrived  in  time  to  save 
them,  by  informing  them  of  the  design.  This 
justly  celebrated  woman  was  afterward  married  to 
an  English  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Rolf,  with 
whom  she  lived  happily.  She  visited  England 
with  her  husband,  was  introduced  to  the  royal 
family,  and  many  of  the  nobility.  She  died  as  she 
was  about  to  return  to  America,  leaving  a  son 
from  whom  have  descended  some  of  the  most  re 
spectable  personages  of  Virginia. 


APPENDIX.  2'85 

VI.    WAR    WITH    THE    PEQUOTS. 

Tins  tribe  of  Indians  inhabited  the  east  side  of 
Connecticut  river,  near  its  mouth.  In  the  year 
1634,  they  murdered  Capt.  Stone,  and  a  Capt. 
Norton,  who  came  to  trade  with  them.  In  1635, 
a  Mr.  Oldham  was  killed  at  Block  Island.  In 
1636,  about  Wethersfield,  many  of  the  inhabitants 
were  killed  and  some  carried  away  and  tortured 
in  their  barbarous  manner.  They  had  a  fort  at 
Mystic,*  which  was  their  place  of  rendezvous,  and 
until  this  should  be  destroyed,  nothing  decisive 
could  be  done. 

In  May  1637,  Capt.  Mason  was  sent  from 
Connecticut,  who  soon  fell  upon  the  fort,  and  after 
a  heavy  discharge  through  the  palisades,  entered 
it  sworcKn  hand.  The  enemy  made  a  desperate 
resistance,  and  for  some  time  the  day  seemed 
doubtful;  the  Indians  secreting  themselves  in  and 
about  the  houses.  At  length  Capt.  Mason  em 
ployed  a  stratagem,  which  had  the  desired  effect. 
He  took  a  brand  of  fire,  and  communicated  it  to 
ihe  mats,  with  which  their  houses  were  covered, 
and  in  a  few  moments  they  were  all  in  flame*; 
then  retreating  out  of  the  fort,  surrounded  it  on 
all  sides.  The  Indians  were  obliged  to  issue  out, 
who  were  no  sooner  out,  than  shot  down.  Thus 
in  about  an  hour  was  the  work  completed,  and 
this  great  horde  broken  up.  After  this  the  Pe- 
quots  made  but  little  resistance,  but  were  pursued 
some  distance  west,f  and  many  more  surprised  at 
different  places.  Before  the  pursuit  was  finished, 

*  On  Mystic  river. 

t  Into  the  country  of  the  Nipmucks. 


286  APPENDIX. 

and  at  the  fort,  about  700  were  slain.  This  put 
such  a  check  to  them,  that  till  the  time  of  Philip, 
did  nothing  of  great  moment  occur. 

VII.    DESTRUCTION    OF    MONTREAL. 

In  1688,  the  Indians  known  hy  the  name  of  the 
Five  Nations,  being  exasperated  against  the 
French,  with  an  army  of  about  1200  men,  attack 
ed  the  island  of  Montreal,  and  killed  1000  inhab 
itants,  and  carried  away  many  prisoners.  They 
fell  upon  the  island  again  the  same  year,  and  went 
off  with  about  the  same  success.  In  consequence 
of  which,  a  garrison  fell  into  their  hands,  and  con 
siderable  military  stores ;  among  which  were 
twenty-seven  barrels  of  powder. 

VIII.    SCHENECTADY    DESTROYED,    &C. 

In  1690,  the  French  stirred  up  the  Canada  In 
dians  to  destroy  our  frontier  settlements.  Count 
Frontenac,  then  Governor  of  Canada,  planned 
three  expeditions  in  the  midst  of  winter,  which 
were  by  different  routs  to  surprise  the  frontier  in 
habitants.  In  February,  one  party,  consisting  of 
French  and  Indians,  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Schenectady.  They  were  on  the  point  of  surren 
dering  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  on  account  of 
their  wretched  condition  from  so  tedious  a  march, 
and  the  severity  of  the  season;  when  their  spies 
returned,  and  informed  them  of  the  defenceless 
state  of  the  town.  On  this  intelligence,  they  re 
ceived  new  courage.  And  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  entered  the  town  in  small  parties,  and  be 
fore  the  people  could  leave  their  beds,  their  houses 
were  entered;  and  shocking  to  relate,  about  100 
persons  were  killed,  or  carried  away  to  endure  a, 


APPENDIX.  2S7 

captivity,  even  worse  than  death  itself.  No  one 
can  conceive  of  the  horrors  of  this  fatal  night 
Infants  torn  from  their  mothers,  arid  thrown  into 
the  flames,  or  their  brains  dashed  out  against  the 
walls  of  their  houses;  nay,  more,  ravishing  and 
murder  were  added  to  their  crimes. 

Many  escaped  without  clothes,  and  perished  in 
the  cold  and  storm  of  that  night.  Twenty-five  of 
those  who  returned,  lost  their  limbs. 

They  killed  all  the  cattle,  and  horses,  except 
about  forty  to  bear  off  their  plunder.     The  Mo 
hawks  joined  a  party  of  young  men  from  Albany 
and  fell  upon  their  rear,  killed  and  made  prisoners 
about  thirty  of  them. 

IX.     DESTRUCTION    OF    DEERFIELD. 

Captivity  of  Mr.  Williams  and  Family. 

In  1703,  Hertel,  with  about  300  French  and 
Indians,  fell  upon  the  town  of  Deerfield,  on  Con 
necticut  river,  put  about  forty  persons  to  death, 
took  100  captives,  burned  the  buildings,  collected 
what  booty  they  could  and  made  off. 

Among  the  captives  were  the  Rev.  Mr  Wil 
Hams  and  his  wife.  Mr.  WilHams'  house  was 
about  the  first  assaulted.  It  being  in  the  dead  of 
the  night,  by  the  time  he  was  out  of  bed,  the  In 
dians  had  made  their  way  into  his  room,  he  seized 
us  pistol,  and  would  have  shot  down  the  first,  but 
it  missed  fire;  that  moment  he  was  laid  hold  of  by- 
others,  who  bound  him,  naked  as  he  was,  a  whole 
lour,  notwithstanding  the  cold  was  intense.  He 
was  then  suffered  to  put  on  a  few  clothes,  and  his 
wife  likewise,*  who  at  this  time  had  a  very  young 

And  five  children. 


288 


APPENDIX. 


child.  Alas,  how  changed  the  scene !  in  this  weak 
state,  compelled  to  wade  in  deep  snows  through 
dismal  woods,  instead  of  a  warm  habitation,  and 
the  kind  attention  of  a  husband.  She  did  not  en 
dure  it  long.  On  the  2d  day,  her  savage  master, 
finding  it  was  not  in  her  power  to  keep  along  with 
the  rest,  sunk  his  hatchet  into  her  head,  and  she 
was  no  more  !  What  excessive  horror,  what  heart 
rending  grief,  must  have  seized  the  bosom  of  Mr. 
Williams  !  no  adequate  idea  can  be  formed.  Mr. 
Williams  was  carried  to  Canada,  and  afterward 
ransomed,  and  returned  to  Boston.  A  daughter 
of  Mr.  Williams  married  an  Indian  with  whom 
she  continued  to  live. 

X.    RAVAGES    OF    THE    EASTERN    INDIANS. 

In  the  summer  of  1722,  the  Norridgewock  In 
dians  became  troublesome.  Among  them  was 
one  Ralle,  a  French  Priest  or  Prophet,  whom 
they  held  in  the  greatest  veneration;  insomuch, 
that  nothing  was  undertaken  unless  approved  of 
by  him;  therefore,  all  broils  between  the  English 
and  Indians,  Ralle  was  thought  accessary  to.  A 
force  was  ordered  to  Norridgewock,  their  princi 
pal  town,  but  on  their  approach  it  was  abandoned. 
The  expedition  affected  nothing  but  the  bringing 
away  Ralle's  papers,  by  which  however,  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  French  had  caused  the  war. 
The  Indians  thought  this  such  an  insult  on  the 
divine  agency,  that  they  were  at  once  more  open 
in  their  depredations. 

A  company  of  about  70  of  them,  fell  upon 
Merry  meeting  Bay,  an  arm  of  the  Winnipisiogee, 
and  carried  off  nine  families.  Shortly  after  they 
took  a  vessel  with  passengers,  and  burnt  Bruns 
wick. 


APPENDIX.  289 

The  war  now  became  general.  In  February 
following,  130  men  under  Col.  Westbrook,  ranged 
the  eoa'st  with  small  vessels,  went  up  to  Pcnobjseot, 
burned  a  handsome  Indian  town,  and  returned 
without  doing  any  thing  but  this  savage  act. 

Soon  after,  Capt.  Moulton  traversed  the  coun 
try,  and  by  his  lenity  in  preserving  Indian  villages, 
effected  more  than  many  of  his  predecessors  by 
their  burning. 

In  the  summer  of  1723,  Canso  was  destroyed, 
and  sixteen  sail  of  fishing  vessels  taken,  by  the 
enemy.  Capt.  Eliot,  in  a  man  of  war  sloop,  with 
about  fifty  men,  recaptured  seven  of  them,  which 
were  at  Winepang  harbour.  On  cruising  the 
coast,  and  seeing  them  in  the  harbour,  made  di 
rectly  in.  On  board  of  one  vessel  were  about  60 
Indians,  who  thought  themselves  sure  of  another 
prize.  Capt.  Eliot  having  secreted  his  men,  and 
as  he  approached  them  they  boldly  cried  out, 
"  Strike  you  English  dogs,  for  you  are  ail  prison 
ers."  Eliot's  men  then  all  rose  up,  and  boarded 
them  sword  in  hand.  They  made  brave  resist 
ance  for  half  an  hour;  but  could  not  withstand  the 
force  of  the  heavy  swords  of  the  English,  and 
those  who  survived  took  to  the  water,  where  their 
fate  was  as  certain;  five  only  reached  the  shore. 

XI.   NORRIDGEWOCK  TAKEN,  AND  DEATH  OF 
RALLE. 

The  great  retreat  of  those  Indians  was  Norridge- 
wock,  where  they  had  a  strong  fort;  nothing,  there 
fore,  could  put  a  stop  to  their  ravages," until  it 
was  destroyed.  Accordingly  in  August,  1724, 
an  expedition  was  planned,  and  four  companies 
sent  on  this  enterprise.  The  brave  Capt.  Moul-* 
25 


290  APPENDIX. 

ton  commanded  that  directed  to  fall  immediately 
on  the  fort.  On  coming  up  the  Indians  rushed 
out,  in  number  about  sixty,  and  with  a  furious  yell 
attacked  them.  The  English  returned  their  fire 
with  such  deadly  effect,  that  they  tied  in  confusion 
to  the  river,  some  reached  the  opposite  shore,  but 
many  were  shot  in  crossing;  the  water  being  deep. 
Moulton  then  returned  to  the  town  and  utterly 
destroyed  it. 

The  famous  Ralle  was  at  this  place.  Capt. 
Moulton  had  given  orders  that  he  should  not  be 
killed;  but  a  Lieutenant  seeing  him  engaged  in 
the  work  of  death,,  forced  into  his  house,  and  shot 
him  through  the  head;  not  however  till  he  had  re 
fused  to  have  or  give  quarter. 

This  was  a  final  overthrow  to  the  Norridgewocks. 
Charlevoix  gives  a  shocking  account  of  this  affair, 
in  which  he  accuses  the  English  with  more  than 
savage  cruelty.  He  gives  Ralle  all  the  honour 
of  a  saint,  without  charging  him  with  any  crimes. 
Ralle  was  a  man  of  great  erudition.  His  letters, 
written  in  Latin,  were  said  to  be  highly  classical. 

xn.  LOVEWELL'S   FIGHT. 

In  the  winter  of  1725,  the  famous  Capt.  John 
Lovewell,  of  Dunstable,  engaged  in  the  war 
against  the  Indians.  A  premium  of  100  pounds 
being  offered  by  government  for  each  Indian's 
scalp.  Lovewell  raised  a  company  of  volunteers, 
and  in  less  than  three  months,  made  about  1200 
pounds. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1726,  as  they  were  rang 
ing  the  wilderness  at  a  great  distance  from  home, 
they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  eighty  Indians. 
When  the  battle  began  they  were  not  far  from  the 


APPENDIX. 

eefrge  of  a  small  pond.  Lovewell  immediately  re 
treated  to  the  water's  edge,  and  thus  prevented  be 
ing  surrounded.  Here  one  of  the  most  desperate 
battles  was  fought  ever  related  in  Indian  story. 
Here  thirty-two  brave  men,  for  six  hours  togeth 
er,  withstood  the  repeated  shocks  of  eighty  savages. 
Night  coining  on,  each  party  thought  themselves 
happy  to  escape  from  the  other.  Capt.  Lovewell, 
his  Lieutenant  and  Ensign  were  among  the  first 
that  fell,  who,  with  five  more, were  left  on  the  field 
of  battle.  Sixteen  escaped  unhurt.  Eight  were 
left  in  this  hideous  wilderness,  badly  wounded, 
two  of  whom  only  returned,  the  rest  having  died  of 
hunger,  and  their  wounds.  The  loss  of  the  enemy 
could  not  be  known,  but  must  have  been  very 
great. 

This  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  English,  yet  the 
Indians  were  sadly  disappointed.  And  was  the 
means  of  bringing  about  a  peace  which  lasted 
many  years. 

xni.  WASHINGTON'S  EXPEDITION. 

Disturbances  between  the  French  and  English 
nations,  soon  involved  the  colonies  in  a  war.  In 
1754,  Maj.  Washington  was  advanced  to  the  rank 
of  Colonel,  and  at  the  head  of  about  300  Virgin 
ians,  was  directed  to  repel  the  encroachments  of 
the  French  and  Indians  on  the  Ohio.  Troops 
from  Carolina  and  New-York,  were  to  join  them; 
Washington, without  the  expected  re-enforcements 
from  New- York,  advanced  boldly  to  meet  the  en 
emy.  The  commander  of  fort  Du  Quesne,* 
a  strong  fort  in  the  possession  of  the  Frenclv 

*  Ncnv  Pittsburg,  in  Pennsylvania. 


292 

sent  out  a  body  of  French,  and  Indians,  whom 
Washington  fell  in  with,  and  after  a  hard  fpught 
battle,  entirely  defeated  them.  The  commander 
of  the  fort  then  appeared  in  person,  with  about  900 
men,  besides  Indians.  Washington  had  only  time 
to  throw  up  some  slight  works,  which  he  called 
Fort  Necessity,  when  he  was  hailed  by  the  yells  of 
The  savagesv  and  the  furious  attack  of  the  French. 
He,  with  his  tew  brave  men,  made  a  gallant  de 
fence,  and  hourly  looked  for  the  New-York 
troops,  but  in  vain.  They  could  expect  nothing 
but  to  sell  their  lives  as  dear  as  they  could.  At 
length,  to  their  great  astonishment,  the  French 
commander  sent  in  a  ilag  of  truce,  offering  an 
honourable  capitulation,  which  was,  that  they 
should  march  out  with  the  honours  of  wrar,  and 
with  their  arms,  £LC.  to  return  to  their  native 
country,  which  Washington  was  pleased  to  accept. 
Here,  at  the  iirst  setting  out  of  the  great 
Washington,  we  discover  in  him  a  second  Leoni- 
das.  Who  can  trace  his  youthful  steps,  without 
the  greatest  admiration?  At  the  age  of  23,  baffling 
the  skill  of  experienced  commanders. 

xiv.   GEN.   SHADDOCK'S  DEFEAT. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1755,  Gen.  Brad- 
ilock  was  sent  over  by  the  British  Government 
with  about  1500  men,  to  proceed  against  the 
French  on  the  Ohio.  On  arriving  in  Virginia  his 
army  was  augmented  to  rising  2000  men.  Much 
time  was  lost  before  the  troops  were  put  in  mo 
tion.  Notwithstanding  Gen.  Braddoek  arrived 
early  in  the  spring,  yet,  it  was  June  before  he 
took  up  his  march.  Before  he  left  England,  ho 
was  often  advised  of  the  danger  of 


APPENDIX.' 

and  when  on  his  march  Col.  Washington,  his  aide, 
modestly  urged  the  necessity  of  using  great  cau 
tion.  He  repeatedly  requested  the  favour  that 
lie  might  march  in  advance  of  his  army  with  his 
rangers,  but  his  advice  was  treated  with  contempt, 
and  the  General  in  derision  observed,  "  A  Buck* 
skin  teach  a  British  General  how  to  fight!" 

When  within  about  thirteen  miles  of  fort  D-u 
Quesne,  they  had  to  pass  a  dangerous  defile,  and 
yet,  no  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  a  surprise. 
The  army  had  all  entered  the  fatal  place,  when 
on  a  sudden,  a  most  tremenduous,  and  deadly  fire 
was  opened  upon  them;  yet,  there  was  hardly  an 
enemy  to  be  seen.  At  this  moment  the  General 
discovered  great  intrepedity,  and  as  much  impru 
dence.  Instead  of  retreating  from  this  position, 
he  used  his  utmost  exertions  to  form  his  regulars, 
who  were  thrown  into  confusion  by  the  first  onset. 
The  Virginians  alone  stood  firm  although  as  much 
exposed  as  the  regulars;  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  brave  Col.  Washington,  succeeded  in  cov 
ering  their  retreat;  thereby  preventing  the  total 
ruin  of  the  shattered  army.  The  General  had 
five  horses  shot  from  under  him;  at  length  receiv 
ing  a  shot  in  the  head,  he  fell. 

"Beneath  his  ear  the  mortal  weapon  went; 
The  soul  came  issuing  at  the  narrow  vent: 
His  limbs,  unnerv'd,  drop  useless  on  the  ground, 
And  everlasting  darkness  shades  him  round." 

He  was  immediately  conveyed  to  the  rear. 

"Him  on  his  car  the  JVashingtonian  train 
In  sad  procession  bore  from  off  the  plain. " 

Many  were  the  brave  officers,  and  men  who  fell  on 
this  fatal  day.  The  number  of  officers  far  ex 
ceeded  the  common  proportion;  in  all  it  is  said  he 

25* 


L29i  APPENDIX. 

lost  half  of  his  army.*     In  this  retreat,  we  behold 
in  our  Washington  a  second  Xenophon. 

XV.     BOON'S    EXPEDITIONS. 

Among  the  most  enterprising  men,  who  hav« 
contributed  to  subdue  the  wilderness,  should  be 
mentioned  Capt.  Daniel  Boon.  He  set  out  from 
North-Carolina,  in  company  with  five  others,  and 
explored  the  country  to  the  plains  of  Kentucky, 
and  course  of  the  Ohio.  He  returned  home  in 
1771,  having  been  absent  about  two  years.  In 
this  expedition  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  number 
of  Indians,  and  to  effect  his  escape,  pretended  per 
fect  satisfaction  with  his  situation,  until  a  good  op- 
portunily  offered.  One  night,  as  his  Indian  com 
panions  lay  asleep,  he  crept  away  softly,  and  made 
good  his  escape. 

He  was  so  delighted  with  the  beautiful  country 
of  Kentucky,  that  he  resolved  to  move  his  family 
thither.  In  1773,  he  set  out  with  his  family  in 
company  with  several  more.  After  passing  two 
ranges  of  mountains,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Cum 
ber]  and  mountains,  their  company  were  attacked 
by  a  numerous  body  of  Indians,  who  killed  six  of 
them,  among  whom  was  Capt.  Boon's  oldest 
son.  Though  they  defeated  the  Indians,  yet  their 
cuttle  were  so  scattered,  and  their  plans  so  discon 
certed,  that  they  concluded  to  return  to  the  settle- 
men, s. 

Cart.  Boon  was  then  employed  by  the  Govern- 
our  of  Virginia,  in  surveys,  &c.  till  1774.  After 
that,  he  laid  out  a  road  through  the  wildernes  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  erected  a  fort,  and  called  it 
Boonsborough.  This  was  on  the  Kentucky  river. 
In  1775,  he  moved  his  family  thither.  They  were 

*  Riders  History. 


APPENDIX.  295 

continually  beset  by  the  Indians.  In  1776,  they 
took  his  daughter  prisoner.  Capt.  Boon  pursued 
them  with  eight  men,  came  up  with  them,  and 
with  his  own  hand,  killed  two  of  them,  and  retook 
his  daughter.  ,  In  1778,  Capt.  Boon  being  out  a 
hunting,  was  taken  'by  102  Indians,  and  conveyed 
to  Detroit,  thence  to  Chilicothe.  Here  a  plan 
was  laid,  and  150  warriours  collected,  and  ordered 
to  attack  Boonsborough.  Capt.  Boon  resolved 
to  escape,  and  warn  his  countrymen  of  their  inten 
tions.  Accordingly  on  the  16th  of  June,  before 
day,  he  made  his  escape,  and  on  the  20th  reached 
Boonsborough,  a  distance  of  160  miles  in  four 
days,  during  which  time  he  had  but  one  meal  of 
victuals. 

In  August  the  meditated  attack  was  made  on 
Boonsborough,  by  about  140  Indians,  under  the 
command  of  a  Frenchman.  A  surrender  of  the 
fort  was  immediately  demanded.  Capt.  Boon 
told  them  he  should  hold  out,  as  long  as  he  had  a 
man  left.  They  commenced  the  siege,  and  after 
about  eleven  days  were  obliged  to  abandon  it, 
having  thirty-seven  men  killed.  He  went  to 
North-Carolina  after  this,  and  removed  his  family 
to  Kentucky  again;  for  during  his  captivity  with 
the  Indians,  his  wife  thinking  him  killed,  had  con 
veyed  herself  and  family  to  North  Carolina.  But 
their  situation  was  as  bad  as  before;  men  were 
continually  killed,  women  ravished  and  murdered, 
and  their  crops  destroyed. 

^Capt.  Boon,  and  three  other  officers,  with  about 
176  men,  met  a  large  body  of  savages  on  Licking 
river,  and  fought  then  to  great  disadvantage,  hav 
ing  sixty-seven  men  killed ;  among  whom  was 
Capt.  Boon's  second  son.  Disturbances  continu- 


296 


APPENDIX. 


ed  for  some  time  after.  At  length  the  Indians 
desiring  peace,  a  formal  treaty  was" concluded  with 
them;  and  from  that  time  the  country  wore  a  dif 
ferent  aspect. 

xvi.   GEN.   HARMER'S  EXPEDITION,  AND  DE 
FEAT    BY    THE    INDIANS. 

In  1791,  the  Indians  about  the  Ohio,  had  again 
resumed  the  hatchet,  and  every  day  grew  more 
troublesome.  Congress  sent  out  General  Harmer, 
with  about  1400  men  to  destroy  their  settlements 
on  the  Scioto,  and  W abash  rivers.  On  the  ap 
proach  of  the  army  to  the  great  Miami  village, 
the  Indians  set  it  on  fire,  and  fled.  The  army 
was  divided,  and  by  a  manoeuvre  of  the  enemy, 
again  subdivided.  The  first  detachment  were 
surprised  by  an  ambush,  and  nearly  all  slain.  A 
second  detachment,  consisting  of  about  500,  soon 
met  a  similar  fate.  This  expedition  terminated 
with  the  loss  of  360  men.  Had  the  enemy  fol 
lowed  up  their  successes,  the  whole  army  must 
have  been  destroyed. 

xvn.   GEN.   ST.   CLAIR'S  DEFEAT. 

At  that  time,  Gen.  St.  Clair  was  Governor  of 
the  western  territory.  He  was  furnished  with 
2000  men  to  subdue  those  savages.  He  marched 
into  the  country  of  the  Miamies,  and  had  arrived 
within  about  two  miles  of  the  Miami  village  in  the 
evening;  made  very  judicious  arrangements,  for 
an  expected  attack,  which  was  made  very  early  the 
next  morning;  but  owing  to  the  shameful  conduct 
of  the  militia,  was  totally  defeated;  having  about 
600  killed.  The  General,  after  doing  all  that 
could  be  done  on  the  field  of  battle,  retreated  in 


APPENDIX.  297 

good  order.  In  this  battle  the  brave  Gen.  But 
ler  fell.  Among  the  wounded  was  Col.  Drake, 
who  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  put  the  whole  left 
flank  of  the  enemy  to  flight;  but  being  severely 
wounded,  this  success  was  not  long  maintained; 
yet  he  assisted  greatly  in  the  retreat. 

xvin.   GEN.  WAYNE'S  EXPEDITION. 

After  this,  Gen.  Wayne  took  the  command, 
and  arrived  with  his  army  on  the  ground  where 
Gen.  St.  Clair  was  defeated^  in  September,  1793. 
After  gathering  up  the  bones  of  their  friends,  and 
committing  them  to  the  dust,  they  erected  a  fort, 
which  the  General  called  Fort  Recovery. 

The  next  year,  in  August,  after  many  ineffect 
ual  attempts  to  bring  about  a  peace,  Gen.  Wayne 
found  that  nothing  but  coercive  measures  would 
succeed.  On  the  20th,  a  decisive  battle  was 
fought  near  the  Miami,  and  the  Indians  com 
pletely  defeated,  and  driven  out  of  the  country* 
and  their  vilages  and  provisions  destroyed  to  pre 
vent  their  return.  In  the  battle  2000  Indians 
were  engaged,  but  the  American  force  was  supe- 
riour,  and  suffered  but  little.  The  Indians  lost 
about  300  warriours. 

XIX.      GOV.     HARRISON    ATTACKED    AT    TIPPE- 
CANOE. 

For  about  sixteen  years  the  frontier  inhabitants 
seem  to  have  been  tolerably  free  from  the  inroads  of 
the  savages.  But  the  Wabash  Indians,  by  many 
thievish  ravages,  had  given  much  cause  of  com 
plaint.  A  Shawanese,  assuming  the  character  of 
a  prophet,  here  appeared  primary  in  forming  a 
oombination  for  invading  the  white  settlements. 


298  APPENDIX. 

This  fellow  was  a  brother  of  the  celebrated  Te- 
cumseh.  Governor  Harrison  concentrated  a  con 
siderable  force  at  Tippecanoe,  a  branch  of  the 
W abash.  On  the  7th  November,  1811,  a  large 
body  of  Indians  attempted  to  surprise  him,  but 
by  his  judicious  precautions  were  prevented,  and 
"  ample  vengeance  inflicted  upon  them."  Har 
rison's  loss  was  considerable,  having  ISO  killed 
and  wounded,  among  whom  were  many  valuable 
officers.  The  enemy  had  about  350  killed,  and 
their  combination  entirely  broken  up. 

XX.      AFFAIR    OF    THE    RIVER    RAISIN. 

In  181o,  at  Frenchtown,  on  the  river  Raisin, 
Gen.  Winchester  was  invested  by  a  body  of  Brit 
ish  and  Indians,  under  Proctor,  and  the  Indian 
chiefs,  Split-Log  and  Round-Head.  Gen.  Win 
chester  marched  into  this  country  to  relieve  the 
inhabitants  of  Frenchtown,  who  were  threatened 
with  an  Indian  massacre.  On  his  arrival  here, 
he  met  a  body  of  the  enemy,  and  after  a  severe 
conflict  put  them  to  the,  rout.  But  on  the  arrival 
of  Gen.  Proctor,  Split- L  >g  and  Round-Head, 
affairs  took  a  turn.  A  most  gallant  resistance 
wras  made,  but,  in  consequence  of  superior  num 
bers,  they  were  obliged  to  capitulate.  It  was 
stipulated,  that  the  men  should  not  be  pilfered  by 
the  savages,  and  should  have  protection  from  the 
British  soldiers.  But  the  perfidious  Proctor  gave 
them  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  as  soon  as 
they  had  surrendered,  and  one  of  the  most  inhu 
man  massacres  ever  recorded  was  suffered  to  be 
carried  on,  under  the  eyes  of  British  officers. 
Upwards  of  800  perished  in  battle  before  they 
had  surrendered,  and  more  than  a  hundred  in  ths 
massacre. 


APPENDIX.  299 

XXI.     BATTLE    OF    THE    MORAVIAN    TOWN,  U-    C, 

Jlnd  Death  of  Tecumseh. 
In  October,  1813,  Gen.  Harrison  moved  up 
the  Thames,  a  river  of  Upper  Canada,  and  at 
a  short  distance  from  the  Moravian  town,  was 
met  by  about  2000  British  and  Tecumseh' s  In 
dians,  who,  under  Proctor,  had  retreated  thither. 
The  battle  soon  began,  and  at  the  commencement 
Col.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  at  the  head  of  the 
mounted  riflemen,  was  ordered  to  break  the  ene 
my's  line,  which  was  executed  with  great  intre 
pidity.  The  Indians  had  possession  of  a  thick 
wood,  where  they  fought  with  great  bravery. 
Here  the  tremendous  voice  of  Tecumseh  was 
heard,  encouraging  his  warriors  in  the  most  ener 
getic  manner.  The  cavalry  were  soon  in  motion 
to  dislodge  them.  Johnson  came  directly  on  the 
point  where  Tecumseh  was  stationed. 

"  He  boldly  stood,  collected  in  his  might; 
And  all  his  beating  bosom  claim'd  the  fight." 

Here  the  battle  was  most  severe,  and  "  mutual 
deaths  were  exchanged  on  either  side."  At 
length  the  brave  Tecumseh  fell,  and  at  nearly 
the  same  time  the  brave  Johnson. 

"  The  darts  fly  round  him  from  a  thousand  hands, 
And  the  red  terrors  of  the  blazing  bands." 

Though  not  mortally  wounded,  yet  he  was  cov 
ered  with  wounds.  They  did  not  fall  alone. 
Within  a  few  yads, around  them  thirty  brave  men 
lay  slain.  By  some,  Colonel  J-ohnson  is  said  to 
have  killed  Tecumseh;  some  others,  that  he  was 
killed  bv  a  soldier,  as  he  was  about  to  deal  a  mor- 


300  APPENDIX. 

tal  blow  on  the  head  of  the  Colonel.  But  it  is 
now  generally  believed,  that  he  fell  by  the  hand 
of  Col.  Johnson. 

When  Tecumseh's  voice  was  no  longer  heard, 
the  savages  gave  way,  and  in  a  short  time  the  vic 
tory  was  complete,  and  almost  the  whole  force 
^ere  made  prisoners. 

XXII.      CREEK    WAR. 

Massacre  at  Fort  Mims. 
We  now  return  to  the  South,  where  the  Creek 
Indians  appear  in  open  war.  The  country  along 
the  Mobile  was  much  alarmed  on  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States;  therefore,  forts  were  erected  at 
different  places,  of  which  fort  Mims  was  the 
chief.  Here  were  a  great  many  families,  and 
about  one  hundred  soldiers,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Beasely.  They  were  sufficiently  cau 
tioned  against  a  surprise,  and  yet,  the  fort  was 
entered  by  the  savages  at  noon  day,  (August  30, 
1813,ybefore  they  were  discovered.  Never  was 
witnessed  a  more  dreadful  scene!  People,  young 
and  old,  women  and  children,  were  burned  to  death 
in  their  houses  !  Some  rushing  into  the  flames  to 
avoid  a  more  dreadful  fate  !  Maj.  Beasely  was 
among  the  first  that  was  slain.  The  whole  num 
ber  that  perished  in  this  horrid  massacre,  was 
about  350.  On  intelligence  of  this  disaster  in 
Tennessee,  Generals,  Jackson,  Coffee  and  Cook, 
with  ft  considerable  army  were  in  motion.  In  the 
beginning  of  November,  Gen.  Coffee,  with  a  de 
tached  party,  met  the  enemy  at  a  place  called 
Tallushatches,  where  they  were  ready  to  receive 
him,  and  after  a  bloody  battle,  in  which  they  dis- 


APPENDIX.  301 

played  great  bravery,  were  cut  off  to  a  man;  be 
ing  about  £00. 

A  few  days  after,  Gen.  Jackson,  at  the  head  of 
ab^ut   1300  men,    advanced   against    Talledega, 
where  about  1000  of  the  enemy  were  besieging 
some   friendly    Indians.     On    the   arrival   of  the, 
troops  a  regular  action  took  place,  and  in  a  short 
time  the   enemy  were  put  to   the   rout;  leaving 
about  300  of  their  warriors  dead  on  the  field  of 
battle. 

Gen.  White,  detached  by  Gen.  Cooke,  march 
ed  against  a  place  on  the  river  Tallapoose.  Af 
ter  killing  and  taking  300  prisoners,  and  destroy 
ing  some  villages,  returned  without  any  loss. 

An  Indian,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Prophet 
Francis,  was- a  great  mover  of  this  war.  Some 
villages  on  theTallapoose,  called  AutosseeTowns, 
were  said  by  the  Prophets,  to  be  places  where  no 
whites  could  disturb  them.  However,  General 
Floyd  gained  a  complete  victory  over  a  large  body 
of  them  here,  on  the  23d  January,  1814,  and 
burned  up  their  towns.  In  the  same  month,  Gen. 
Jackson  and  Gen.  Coffee  advanced  into  their 
country,  and  subdued  them  in  several  battles. 
Gen.  Jackson  having  encamped  on  the  21st,  was 
attacked  before  morning;  not  however  without  be 
ing  in  a  posture  ready  to  receive  the  enemy,  which 
in  a  short  time,  were  put  to  flight,  and  although 
the  contest  was  short,  yet  they  left  forty  of  their 
warriors  slain. 

The  army  began  now  to  be  short  of  provisions, 
concluded  to  retreat.  The  next  day  after  arriving 
at  Enotachopco,  they  were  attacked  in  the  rear 
while  crossing  a  dangerous  defile;  this  sudden 
movement  of  the  enemy,  caused  such  disorder  in 
26 


APPENDIX. 

the  undisciplined  troops,  as  threatened  a  total  de 
feat,  but  through  the  promptness  and  decision  of 
their  intrepid  General,  was  prevented,  and  the 
enemy  entirely  defeated. 

Gen.  Floyd,  after  leaving  the  Chatahouchie 
river,  was  attacked  in  his  camp,  just  before  day. 
The  battle  lasted  till  morning  with  great  obstina- 
>fy  and  resolution,  on  the  part  of  the  savages;  but, 
as  it  grew  light,  they  made  their  escape.  Their 
number  of  killed  was  not  known;  the  Americans 
had  17  killed,  and  132  wounded. 

Notwithstanding  so  many  successive  defeats, 
these  people,  like  the  ancient  Britons  under  the 
guidance  of  their  druids,  adhered  to  their  proph 
ets,  and  still  cherished  the  belief,  that  their  ene 
mies  would  at  last,  be  delivered  into  their. hands. 

Gen.  Jackson  came  upon  a  great  army  of  them  at 
what  is  called  the  Horse-Shoe-Bend,  of  the  Goose 
river.  Here  they  had  a  regular  fortified  camp,  and 
thought  themselves  quite  secure.  On  the  27th 
of  March,  the  plan  of  attack  was  put  in  execution, 
and  after  a  very  severe  contest,  in  which  the  In 
dians  fought  with  all  the  desperation  their  situation 
could  inspire,  were  surrounded  and  cut  to  pieces. 
The  shore  of  the  rixer  was  strewed  with  their 
slain.  750  warriours  were  slain,  among  whom 
were  three  of  their  prophets.  The  Americans 
had  about  eighty  killed,  and  140  wounded. 

The  fate  of  these  prophets,  may  put  the  reader 
in  mind  of  that  of  Tispaquin.*  Although  they 
professed  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  yet  they  proved 
as  vulnerable  as  poor  Tispaquin,  who  made  no 
such  pretentious.  On  the  life  or  death  of  those, 
war  or  peace  depended,  but  Tispaquin's  death  was 

*  See  page  117  and  118. 


APPENDIX.  303 

downright  murder;  having  put  himself  under  the 
protection  of  the  government  of  Plymouth. 

Thus  ended  this  dreadful  war,  dreadful  when 
we  consider  to  what  a  state  of  civilization  they  had 
arrived,  dreadful  when  we  contemplate  that  civil 
ized  men*  were  the  cause  of  these  calamities. 

After  this,  in  1817,  some  Creeks  having  escap 
ed  into  Florida,  also,  some  runaway  negroes,  took 
shelter  among  the  Seminole  Indians,  and  again 
ventured  to  appear  hostile;  but  Gen.  Jackson  soon 
appeared  among  them,  and  after  some  considera 
ble  manceuvering,  during  which  little  opposition 
was  made,  restored  things  to  order. 

RECAPITULATION. 

From  that  time  to  the  present,  (1825,)  few  disturbances 
liave  arisen;  yet,  since  the  settlement  of  Plymouth,  not  a 
year  has  passed,  without  complaints  against  the  Indians, 
from  some  quarter  or  other.  The  natives  have  sometimes 
complained  to  our  government,  their  grounds  of  complaint 
were  as  just,  and  perhaps  not  less  frequent,  than  those  of 
the  whites;  yet,  where  they  have  made  one,  the  whites  have 
made  many.  It  is  said  that  the  Creeks  had  not  the  least 
cause  of  war;  for  in  every  instance,  they  had  been  satisfac 
torily  paid,  for  all  lands  claimed  by  them,  whereon  any  set 
tlements  were  ever  made.  But  we  do  not  so  often  hear  that 
Indian  wars  happen  about  lands,  as  other  more  trifling  mat 
ters.  The  distressing  eastern  war  of  1675,  is  said  to  have 
grown  out  of  the  foolish  conduct  of  some  sailors,  who  hav 
ing  heard  that  young  Indians  could  swim  naturally,  took  an 
opportunity  in  the  absence  of  a  squawf  to  try  the  experi 
ment;  and  although  they  did  not  drown  the  chUd,  war  was 
the  consequence.  It  is  said  by  some  that  this  was  not  the 
only  insult  that  gave  rise  to  that  war,  but  that  some  of  them 
had  been  kidnaped  on  board  vessels,  near  Cape  Sable,  and 
carried  off  and  sold  as  slaves.  People,  who  call  themselves 
civilized,  and  are  found  guilty  of  such  atrocities,  inflict  the 
blackest  colour  on  the  name  of  civilization.  Considering 

*  British  Agents. 

t  Wife  of  Sqiwito,  Sachem  of  Saco.— Hub.  Nar.  page  291. 


304  APPENDIX. 

such  infamous  deeds  of  the  whites,  \ve  cannot  so  much  won 
der  at  the  saying  of  a  great  admirer  of  savage  life,  viz.  that 
"  every  attempt  at  civilization,  is  another  remove  from  inno 
cence  and  happiness."  This  was  neither  a  Banks,  nor  a  So- 
lander;  but,  not  a  less  greater  philosopher. 

The  Pequot  Indians  had  as  little  cause  fer,  the  war  of 
their  destruction,  as  any  ever  had,  according  to  all  accounts, 
but  their  history,  could  it  have  been  written,  would  doubt 
less  have  differed  considerably  from  ours. 

Notwithstanding,  on  a  careful  and  candid  examination  of 
relative  circumstances,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  sar 
casms  of  the  present  age,  cast  upon  our  Forefathers,  ema 
nate,  generally,  from  inconsiderate  minds,  and  such  as  are 
unacquainted  with  the  history  of  those  times;  or,  who  read 
with  prejudice,  and  thereby  imbibe  it  more  strongly  from 
the  story  of  retaliation.  Whoever  views  clearly,  what  must 
have  been  the  situation,  and  peculiar  circumstances  of  our 
Forefathers,  in  a  hideous  wilderness,  will  not  reproach 
them  so  frequently.  Nothing  but  alarms  and  strange  ap 
pearances*  were  presented  to  their  view.  They  soon  learn 
ed  that  they  could  put  no  dependance  on  the  words  of  their 
savage  neighbours.  If  any  of  them  were  true  to  their  prom 
ise,  no  dependance  could  be  made  on  them  by  reason  of  the 
treachery  of  others.  The  early  supply  of  arms,  which  the 
Indians  received  (see  page  18,  Note,)  was  a  dreadful  stroke 
to  the  English.  In  times  of  dissatisfaction,  no  one  could 
venture  out  of  his  door,  or  sleep  within,  without  fear  of  be 
ing  shot  down,  or  tomahawked  in  bed.  But  in  times  when 
every  appearance  of  friendship  was  manifested,  was  the  fa 
tal  blow  struck.  When  Indian  towns  were  destroyed,  no 
doubt,  many  innocent  ones  were  slain,  as  was  the  case  when 
the  English  towns  were  destroyed,  nor  could  it  well  be  avoid 
ed,  for  who  could  designate?  or  even  if  designation  could 
be  made,  in  the  mean  time  the  battle  is  lost;  Therefore, 
whoever  undertakes  to  decide  at  this  distant  period,  where 
the  fault  lies,  if  he  contemplates  a  moment,  will  find  himself 
obliged  to  answer  harder  questions,  than  the  poet  asks  ia 
the  lines  which  follow. 

"  But  where's  th'  extreme  of  vice,  was  ne'er  agreed; 

Ask  -where's  the  North?  at  York,  'tis  on  the  Tweed; 
In  Scotland,  at  the  Orcades;  and  there, 

At  Greenland,  Zerabla,  or  the  Lord  knows  where/' 

THE    END. 


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